India, Oct. 1 -- Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to Indian pilot Smit Machchar's "extraordinary bravery" for opening the cockpit door on time despite being stabbed by his Omani co-pilot mid-air.

Machchar's co-pilot attacked him intending to crash the Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, September 30 evening. Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, Machchar opened the locked cockpit door, which allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot.

Two flydubai pilots who were on the flight as passengers took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk. Apart from Machchar, all other crew members and passengers are safe.

The flight had 170 Israelis on board. Is...