Shah Rukh Khan Praises Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar for Courage During Mid-Air Attack
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has praised Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage and sense of duty after the Indian pilot was attacked by his co-pilot during an Israel-bound flight. Khan said Machchhar put the safety of passengers ahead of his own and wished him a speedy recovery.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] October 3: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has joined in to praise flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his actions during a mid-air emergency on Flight FZ1073. In a post that he shared on his Instagram Story, SRK lauded Machchhar for staying strong during the difficult situation and putting the safety of those on board before his own. Sharing his message, the actor called the pilot’s actions a “true display of courage and duty”.
SRK wrote, “Captain Smit Machchhar, you stood strong when it mattered the most!! It’s not easy to stare adversity in the face and put one’s safety on the line.” “But you did just that to protect those onboard and showed us what being a Captain entails. A true display of courage and duty. Wishing you a speedy recovery, the country is proud of you.” Salman Khan Praises Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar for Courage During Mid-Air Attack.
Shah Rukh Khan Lauds Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar
Captain Smit Machchhar, you stood strong when it mattered the most!! It’s not easy to stare adversity in the face and put one’s safety on the line… but you did just that to protect those onboard and showed us what being a Captain entails. A true display of courage and duty. Wishing you a speedy recovery, the country is proud of you…
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 3, 2026
Earlier, Salman Khan had also praised Machchhar for his handling of the emergency. Sharing a post on X, Salman said he would be happy to fly with the pilot and called him “Kamaal” for his actions. “Kamaal kar diya pilot ji, hum sab aap ko salute karte hain will be a pleasure to fly with u.. Well done bro.. Capt #SmitMachchhar,” Salman wrote. Flydubai Cockpit Attack: Omani Co-Pilot Identified as Hamam al-Hammami.
Following pilot Captain Smit Machchhar’s extraordinary courage in averting a major aviation disaster despite suffering serious injuries during a life-threatening mid-air cockpit attack, his family in Rajkot on Friday expressed immense pride in his actions, noting that the entire nation is praying for his swift recovery.
Speaking to ANI in Rajkot, the pilot's cousin, Pulkit Machchhar, said, "He is actually my cousin; our family, our community, and the entire nation are proud of the courage he displayed and the lives he saved through his actions. It is a matter of immense pride for our family and the entire country; naturally, when a national leader issues a personal statement, it is a proud moment, and the work he has done is a source of pride for everyone."
The September 30 security crisis involved the flight operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where the Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the commander in an apparent terror-driven attempt to bring down the plane. The confrontation triggered a steep descent, causing the aircraft to drop approximately 16,000 feet within two minutes before the transmission of a hijacking distress signal.
Despite sustaining severe injuries, Captain Smit Machchhar fiercely resisted the assailant. Assisted by flight crew members and passengers who breached the flight deck to restrain the attacker, the crew successfully reasserted command of the aircraft. The plane subsequently touched down safely during an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, ensuring that all 180 occupants disembarked without injury.
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)
