President Isaac Herzog invited Captain Smit Machchhar, the heroic Indian pilot of the flydubai flight that recently faced a hijacking attempt, to visit Israel in a letter on Saturday, in an expression of gratitude for his actions in rescuing the Israelis on board the flight.
"I look forward, once you have regained strength, to welcoming you to Jerusalem and expressing the appreciation and the love of our grateful nation,” Herzog wrote, wishing Machchhar a full and speedy recovery.
In the letter, Herzog praised Machchhar's judgment and bravery after being attacked by his copilot, saying, “Your ability to find the strength to rise above the pain, to combat the immediate threat to your life, and to operate sound judgment demonstrates the strength of your character and the great valor you possess.”
He also connected Machchhar's actions with the Indian soldiers who fought in Israel over 100 years ago, "to liberate cities in the Holy Land, forever becoming part of Israel's history."
Machchhar too, Hezog said, would become "a treasured part of our people’s history, further amplifying the warmth and connection between the Republic of India and the State of Israel.”
Machchhar tells Netanyahu about efforts to open cockpit door
During a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month, Machchhar said that he "gave everything that I had" to open the cockpit door once his Omani co-pilot began attacking him in an attempt to hijack the aircraft.
"I had that one last fight left in me," Machchhar told the prime minister. "If I don't do it, I'm going to die... and just went for the door and opened the door."
Machchhar also told Netanyahu that he would appreciate the chance to meet the Israeli dentist who saved his life onboard the aircraft immediately following the co-pilot's attack.
Aaron Glick contributed to this report.