Smith Machchhar has been praised in his home state of Gujarat after the onboard incident.
India is honouring Flydubai pilot Smith Machchhar after the incident aboard Flight FZ1073. He reportedly helped stop an attacker and protect passengers. Israel’s Ynet describes the support he received in the state of Gujarat.
Machchhar grew up in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar neighbourhood in a family with roots in Gujarat. He studied textile engineering before training as a pilot in New Zealand. Residents in Ahmedabad called him a hero. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced an award, and a prayer for the pilot’s recovery was held at the Somnath temple.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Machchhar and praised his courage. Ynet said Modi told him that his actions had brought pride to a country of about 1.4 billion people.
The article cites a poll conducted before the incident: 32% of respondents viewed Israel positively, 28% negatively and 40% did not answer. Ynet also reports that Israeli investigators are participating in the inquiry in the UAE. The newspaper presents claims about the Omani co-pilot’s motive as information connected to the investigation.