Shah Rukh Khan Praises Captain Smit Machchhar for Courage During Mid-Air Attack

Shah Rukh Khan has praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage and presence of mind after he helped protect passengers on a Flydubai flight despite being attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot mid-air. The actor took to X to acknowledge Machchhar’s actions, highlighting how the pilot put the safety of those onboard ahead of his own.

Shah Rukh wrote on X, “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…”

Captain Smit Machchhar was operating Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people onboard, including 27 children. On September 30, while flying over Saudi Arabia, Machchhar was attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot inside the cockpit.

Despite serious injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene and overpower the attacker. Two other pilots travelling on the flight subsequently helped take control of the aircraft, and the flight was diverted safely to Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia, where Machchhar was hospitalized for treatment.

Machchhar later spoke from his hospital bed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recounting how he opened the cockpit door despite his injuries to enable others to stop the attacker and prevent further danger to those onboard.