In a call Thursday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited the Indian leader and the heroic captain of flydubai Flight FZ1073, Smit Machchhar, to light a torch on Israel’s Independence Day next May.

“I spoke with my friend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and invited him to light the torch alongside a brave Indian pilot on Israel’s Independence Day,” Netanyahu posted on X.

“Modi thanked me for the invitation and said that on land and in the air, India and Israel are fighting terrorism together. He also commended the strong and decades-old ties between us,” he said.

Netanyahu had already extended the invitation to Machchhar when he spoke to him by phone while the pilot was recovering in a Saudi hospital after being attacked by the failed hijacker, Hamam al-Hammami, the Omani co-pilot who struck him with the emergency crash axe in an attempt to take control of the aircraft.

“Captain, I want to invite you and my dear friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a celebratory flame on our next Independence Day,” the Israeli premier told the captain at the time, calling him a “true hero” and wishing him “a very speedy and complete recovery.”

In their call Thursday, the two leaders also discussed developments in the Middle East and ties between their countries. Modi later posted about the exchange on X.

“Received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We reviewed the sustained momentum in our bilateral ties and reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthening our partnership,” he wrote.

“We also exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia and underscored the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region,” he added.