President Murmu 'Nation Proud of Captain Machchhar'

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday praised the heroic courage and incredible presence of mind of Captain Smit Machchhar for foiling his co-pilot's alleged attempt to crash a flydubai flight to Israel and said that the nation is proud of him. 

Even after being seriously injured in a moment of grave peril, he remained determined to protect



the lives of others, she said in a post on X. 

The flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, had transmitted emergency signals and made a sharp descent before diverting to Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz Airport in Tabuk. 

The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.