Salman Khan Praises Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar for Courage During Mid-Air Attack
Bollywood actor Salman Khan has praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his actions during the mid-air attack aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Khan said he would be pleased to fly with Machchhar, who was injured after being allegedly attacked by his co-pilot during the flight.
Mumbai, October 3: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has lauded Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage and presence of mind during the terrifying mid-air incident aboard a Flydubai flight. He said it would be a pleasure to fly with him as he took to his X (formerly Twitter account) , Salman wrote, “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's opening phrase, “Kamaal kar diya pilot ji”, also has the familiar playful tonality associated with his iconic Dabangg dialogue “Kamaal karte ho, Pandey ji”, making the tribute sound the quintessential like a Salman-style salute. Flydubai Cockpit Attack: Omani Co-Pilot Identified as Hamam al-Hammami.
Salman Khan Praises Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar
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 Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) October 2, 2026
The actor's message comes after a dramatic incident involving Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board. Captain Machchhar was seriously injured after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him inside the cockpit.
Despite deep his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene. The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The brave act has been lauded by millions with a lot of Bollywood stars lauding the captain. Shilpa Shetty, Jackie Shroff Laud Captain Smit Machchhar for Saving Over 170 Lives on Flydubai Flight.
Actor Anil Kapoor also shared a heartfelt tribute to Captain Machchhar, revealing a personal connection to the pilot through his business manager Jalal. Anil Kapoor recalled that Jalal had known Smit since flying school and had always considered him someone he would want by his side in a difficult situation.
In his post, Kapoor wrote in part, “What Smit did in that moment was nothing short of extraordinary. It takes immense courage to stay strong and put others first...” He went on to express his respect for the captain and wished him a speedy recovery. Many Bollywood celebrities have also taken to social media to salute Machchhar's courage.
Vicky Kaushal shared a picture of the pilot in the cockpit and wrote, “Braveheart! Capt Smit Machchhar.” Sunny Deol praised Machchhar's “extraordinary courage and presence of mind”, saying he had helped avert a disaster and save lives, while wishing him a speedy recovery.
Tamannaah Bhatia highlighted the extraordinary responsibility Machchhar carried during the crisis. R. Madhavan also joined the tributes, praying for the speedy recovery of what he described as a true hero.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2026 11:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
