Israeli President Isaac Herzog pledged the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism to Captain Smit Machchhar after his recovery, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel’s Independence Day torch ceremony.
Machchhar was among those aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 when an altercation occurred in the flight deck on Sept. 30. The aircraft was traveling from Dubai to Ben Gurion International Airport when it diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely, Flydubai said. The airline said all passengers and crew were accounted for and that the cause remained under formal investigation.
Netanyahu made the invitation in a post on Thursday, Oct. 22, proposing that Modi light a torch alongside a “brave Indian pilot.” He said Modi responded with thanks and spoke positively about the countries’ relationship. Netanyahu did not name the pilot, and neither his post nor Herzog’s announcement confirms that the invitee was Machchhar.
The Indian government’s account of the conversation covered bilateral ties and West Asia. It said Modi restated India’s call for dialogue and diplomacy to restore regional peace and stability, but did not say whether he would attend. EconoTimes previously covered the leaders’ discussion of bilateral ties.
At an Oct. 8 ceremony, Herzog honored six other people from the flight and said they had saved 174 lives. The president’s office describes the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism as Israel’s highest civilian award for heroism. Herzog said Machchhar would receive it after he recovers from his injuries.
The Knesset says the state ceremony at Mount Herzl opens Israel’s Independence Day celebrations and has been held since 1950. The Times of Israel reported that a government-run process selects torch-lighters, so Netanyahu’s invitation does not settle the final roster. Israel’s Embassy in India says the two countries upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership during Modi’s July 2017 visit.
