The flight diverted to Saudi Arabia,where the captain was taken to hospital.

‘I am not looking at this wound like a wound because that would make my recovery even more difficult,’ he said.

‘I am looking at it as a journey which is slowly going on and will take time,but I am confident that the recovery will be there and I will become fit and healthy again.’

Prime Minister Modi said Machchhar’s ‘courage,patience and quick decision-making saved the lives of so many people’,adding the whole country was proud of him.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also described him as a ‘true hero’.

The co-pilot accused of trying to hijack the flight was allegedly a religious extremist who showed ‘very strange behaviour.’

More details are emerging about the suspected attacker,who is said to be an Omani national,although his details are yet to be officially confirmed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that the pilot was shouting ‘kill me’ after he was tied up.

‘It’s clear he was suicidal,that’s not a question,’ Netanyahu said.