Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage and presence of mind during a mid-air emergency aboard a flydubai flight, saying the Indian pilot’s actions helped avert a tragedy on the scale of the 9/11 attacks.

In a post on X, Mr. Modi said Mr. Machchhar “showed the world the highest form of courage” by confronting the danger despite risking his own life. The Prime Minister also said that 140 crore Indians were saluting the captain and praying for his well-being.

Mr. Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot during the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to intervene before the aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mr. Machchhar’s bravery, with Mr. Modi comparing his actions to averting ‘another 9/11’.