US, Oct. 1 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed Indian pilot Smit Machchhar as a "hero" after he thwarted his co-pilot's alleged attempt to crash a flydubai flight, and said the country is proud of his valor.

Lauding Captain Machchhar, Modi said he helped save hundreds of lives and prevented a "great tragedy" despite being seriously injured.

The flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, had transmitted emergency signals on Wednesday and made a sharp descent of more than 17,000 feet from 34,000 feet before diverting to Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz Airport in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk city.

The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.

"Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO. In the face of the ...