Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published a statement saluting Captain Smit Machchhar, the Flydubai pilot who fought off his terrorist co-pilot and was stabbed in the process."My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery. Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker - preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.""He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals. I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery. He is a true hero," Netanyahu wrote.