Indian and Israeli leaders have praised Indian pilot Smit Machchhar as a hero after he was stabbed by his co-pilot during an alleged attempt to crash a Flydubai flight. The aircraft plunged nearly 17,000 feet in less than two minutes as the attack unfolded, before passengers and crew intervened and helped stop the alleged attacker. The flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely before passengers later continued their journey to Israel. Machchhar was taken to hospital in the northwestern city of Tabuk, where Indian authorities said he is receiving medical treatment. #flydubai #israel #pilot #indian #mailtalks