Shah Rukh Khan has joined a growing list of Bollywood celebrities praising Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who helped prevent a potential disaster after being attacked inside the cockpit of a Flydubai flight. SRK shared a message for Machchhar on social media, praising the captain for remaining composed during an extraordinary emergency and putting the safety of those on board ahead of his own. The actor described his actions as a display of courage and duty.
The tribute comes days after Flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was forced into an emergency situation following an alleged attack by the co-pilot.
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.…
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 3, 2026
What happened inside the Flydubai cockpit?
According to reports, Machchhar was seriously injured during the confrontation, and the aircraft subsequently went into a steep descent. Despite being wounded, the captain managed to open the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and crew members to enter, restrain the alleged attacker and help restore control of the aircraft. The flight was eventually diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
The exact number of people on board has been reported differently by various outlets, with Reuters reporting 174 passengers, while other reports have cited higher figures including crew.
Captain Smit Machchhar recalls the terrifying moments
The scale of Machchhar’s actions became clearer when he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi. The captain said he realised the aircraft was descending even after he had fallen to the cockpit floor. He told Modi that he knew he had to get up and reach the cockpit door because passengers could lose their lives otherwise.
Machchhar, who has around 17 years of flying experience and has spent about 11 years as a captain, previously worked with SpiceJet before joining Flydubai.
Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, Anil Kapoor and other celebrities have also publicly praised Machchhar following the incident.
Shiwani works as a Senior Sub Editor at NewsX, covering the entertainment beat. With a strong background in media, she is a true cinema buff who loves keeping up with the latest in pop culture and lifestyle trends. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Shiwani followed her passion and pursued a Master’s in Journalism from IIMC, choosing the road less travelled.
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