True display of courage: SRK praises Captain Smit Machchhar, wishes him recovery

Shah Rukh Khan praised Captain Smit Machchhar after the injured pilot helped avert a potential disaster aboard a Flydubai flight carrying 174 passengers. The superstar called his actions "a true display of courage and duty."

In Short

• SRK praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar after flydubai incident
• The aircraft plunged over 17,000 feet before diverting safely to Tabuk
• Celebs like Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal and Salman Khan have also praised the pilot

Shah Rukh Khan shared a post to praise Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage during the dramatic incident involving an Israel-bound flight, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children. The actor commended the captain for prioritising the safety of those onboard and wished him a speedy recovery.

In his post, SRK addressed Captain Machchhar directly, applauding him for standing strong when it mattered the most and risking his own safety to protect others.

“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,” the actor wrote.

SRK's message highlighted the responsibility that comes with being a captain, particularly in challenging circumstances, and praised Machchhar for prioritising the safety of those under his care.

Other than SRK, Salman Khan also praised Machchhar for his bravery during the incident.

“Kamaal kar diya pilot ji, hum sab aap ko salute karte hain will be a pleasure to fly with u.. Well done bro.. Capt Smit Machchhar,” he wrote. (You did an amazing job, pilot sir. We all salute you. It will be a pleasure to fly with you. Well done, bro. Capt Smit Machchhar).

Several other celebrities, including Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Sunny Deol and Tamannaah Bhatia, also acknowledged the pilot's actions and wish him a speedy recovery.

Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot in an alleged attempt to crash the flydubai plane. The flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it transmitted emergency signals on Wednesday.

The aircraft made a sharp descent of more than 17,000 feet from 34,000 feet before diverting to Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz Airport in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk city. The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.

During a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, Captain Smit Machchhar, who was recovering at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, recounted the harrowing incident and described his desperate attempts to open the cockpit door and seek help.

In the nearly 10-minute video released on PM Modi's social media channels, Machchhar appeared with a tube in his nose and bandages on his head and hands. He was visibly emotional and wiped away tears while recounting his ordeal.

Machchhar also spoke about his experience as a pilot, revealing that he had been flying for 17 years and had served as a captain for the past 11.

“I have been flying for the last 17 years and have been a captain for the last 11 years. I knew that the aircraft was going down,” he said.

PM Modi praised Machchhar's courage and presence of mind, stating that his actions had saved lives and upheld the reputation of Indian pilots.

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