India, Oct. 1 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to the wife and parents of Captain Smit Machchhar and applauded his bravery, which helped save hundreds of lives aboard a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv.

Machchhar, captain of flydubai flight FZ1073 travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, is currently in the ICU at a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where he is undergoing treatment for serious injuries sustained in the mid-air attack.

During the conversation, Modi praised Machchhar's courage and presence of mind and stressed that Indian missions were providing all possible assistance to the passengers and crew.

Speaking at a function marking the centenary of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Modi said he had spoken to Ma...