Netanyahu invites Flydubai pilot and Modi to Israel's Independence Day
In short
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu invited a Flydubai pilot to visit Israel, according to TASS and RIA Novosti, with RIA Novosti describing the pilot as having prevented a plane crash. TASS said the invitation was for Israel's Independence Day and that Netanyahu also invited Modi, whom the report does not further identify. Neither report said whether the invitations were accepted or gave details of the flight incident.
Read the full story 1 min read
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu invited a Flydubai pilot to visit Israel, TASS and RIA Novosti reported late on 3 October. TASS said the invitation was to Israel's Independence Day and that Netanyahu also invited Modi, without giving any further identification. RIA Novosti said Netanyahu invited the pilot, whom it described as having prevented a plane crash, to visit the country. [ 1 , 2 ]
TASS reported that Netanyahu noted the courage of Smit Machchhar. Neither report said whether the invitations had been accepted, when Israel's Independence Day falls, or where and when the flight incident the pilot is credited with preventing took place. Neither outlet reported comment from Flydubai, the pilot or Israeli authorities beyond the prime minister's remarks. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The invitations, reported by two state news agencies, put an aviation safety episode involving a Dubai-based carrier into a diplomatic setting alongside an invitation to a figure identified only as Modi. The documents do not state what follow-up, if any, the invitations will have, so their practical effect is not yet clear from the coverage.
Key facts
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu invited a Flydubai pilot to visit Israel, according to TASS and RIA Novosti. [ 1 , 2 ]
- TASS said the invitation was to Israel's Independence Day. [ 1 ]
- TASS said Netanyahu also invited Modi, without identifying him further. [ 1 ]
- TASS said Netanyahu noted the courage of Smit Machchhar. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti said the pilot had prevented a plane crash. [ 2 ]
- Both reports were published late in the evening of 3 October, local time. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The identity of the person TASS calls Modi, who was also invited. Only TASS mentions this invitation, and the report gives no identifying details beyond the name.
- The pilot's name and how it should be written in English. Only TASS names him, as Smit Machchhar, and no other document confirms the name or spelling.
- The circumstances of the flight incident the pilot is credited with preventing. No document gives the date, place, flight number or number of people involved; RIA Novosti refers only to a prevented plane crash.
- Whether the invitations were accepted and when Israel's Independence Day falls. Neither document says whether the invitations were answered, and neither gives a date for the event.