Tel Aviv, October 1: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his “tremendous act of heroism” during a mid-air cockpit attack aboard an Israel-bound Flydubai flight.

Speaking to CBS News, Netanyahu said Machchhar, who was seriously injured after allegedly being attacked by his co-pilot, managed to unlock the cockpit door while “fighting for his life”, allowing passengers and crew to intervene.

According to Netanyahu, an Israeli passenger rushed into the cockpit, restrained the attacker and helped regain control of the aircraft. Other crew members subsequently entered the cockpit and stabilised the plane.

The Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and landed safely despite damage to its rudder and tail. The passengers were later flown to Israel on another aircraft.

Flydubai confirmed that an altercation had occurred in the flight deck and said the aircraft was safely secured and diverted by crew members travelling on the flight.

Machchhar, a seasoned pilot with more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience, has around 9,750 flying hours and previously served with SpiceJet.

Flydubai has temporarily suspended flights to and from Israel while investigations into the incident continue.