Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a hero by the leaders of India and Israel after he fought off a cockpit attack and helped save 174 people on a flydubai flight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Machchhar a hero on X on Thursday. He said the pilot showed immense courage despite being seriously injured and helped avert a great tragedy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised him as a true hero. A spokesperson for Netanyahu told Reuters that Machchhar, covered in blood, managed to release the cockpit door. That let passengers and crew overpower the co-pilot.

The attack happened on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. The co-pilot stabbed Machchhar and sent the jet plunging nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, Israeli officials said.

Two off-duty flydubai pilots on board helped land the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. US President Donald Trump said he discussed the incident with Netanyahu.

Machchhar, who is from Mumbai, is stable in a Tabuk hospital. The attacker is under investigation in Saudi Arabia.