President Murmu, PM Modi praise Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for saving Israel-bound flight from crash
India’s President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended pilot Smit Machchhar after he thwarted a sabotage attempt on a Dubai‑to‑Israel flight. The co‑pilot tried to bring the aircraft down, but Machchhar intervened, preventing a crash and ensuring the safety of all 174 passengers and crew on board. Investigators are reviewing cockpit recordings, and his conduct was praised as exemplary.