Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot of a Flydubai flight involved in a serious mid-air incident, to visit Israel as his guest.

Netanyahu extended the invitation during a telephone conversation with Machchhar after the captain was praised for his actions during the incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The flight encountered an emergency on September 30 when the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar in the cockpit. The aircraft subsequently experienced a sharp descent before the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to intervene. The aircraft was eventually diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

In a video released by Netanyahu's office, the Israeli prime minister praised Machchhar's actions and described him as a hero of both India and Israel, as well as the wider world.

Machchhar has since been recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital. India's Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday that the pilot was recovering well following the incident.

The incident has also prompted investigations by authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The UAE Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, said on October 3 that preliminary findings indicated that the co-pilot had attempted what UAE authorities described as a terrorist act. According to the UAE authorities, the co-pilot used an emergency crash axe during the confrontation and attempted to take control of the aircraft.

The description by UAE authorities represents the current preliminary findings, while investigations are continuing to establish the full circumstances and motive behind the incident.

Earlier reports said the aircraft, carrying more than 170 people, suffered a substantial loss of altitude during the cockpit confrontation. After the situation was brought under control, the plane diverted to Saudi Arabia instead of continuing to Tel Aviv.

Machchhar later spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed and recounted how he recognised the danger to passengers and worked to regain control of the situation despite being injured. Modi praised the captain for his courage and actions during the emergency.

The incident has attracted international attention, with leaders including Netanyahu and Modi publicly recognising Machchhar's role in helping avert a potentially serious aviation disaster. Reuters reported that Netanyahu and Modi both hailed the Indian pilot for his actions.

The identity and motive of the co-pilot have also been the subject of investigation and media reports. Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether it was connected to terrorism or involved any wider planning.

For now, investigators continue to examine the incident while Machchhar recovers from his injuries.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia