Special guest on Independence Day; Israel to honour Captain Smit Machchhar

DUBAI: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot of FlyDubai, as a special guest on Israel's Independence Day. Netanyahu invited Captain Smit and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light the ceremonial lamp on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem as part of the Independence Day celebrations.

Lighting the Independence Torch is the highest recognition usually reserved only for Israeli citizens. Netanyahu said that Israel is proud to give this recognition to Captain Smit this time. He informed this in a direct telephone conversation with Smit. In the conversation, the prime minister of Israel said Smit was not just the hero of Israel or India but the world.

Meanwhile, accused co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami revealed that he planned to deliberately crash the Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv. A Saudi official associated with the investigation disclosed that Hammami told him that he doesn’t fear death. The investigative team is examining how he became drawn to extremist ideologies and was allowed to work in the cockpit despite the airline's knowledge of his dubious antecedents.