Captain Smit Machchhar is being hailed globally as a ‘hero’ after surviving and subduing a mid-air cockpit attack on a Flydubai Flight, FZ1073.  While accolades keep pouring in for his bravery, members from the film fraternity join hands in appreciating him. Bollywood Baadshah Shah Rukh Khan lauded Machchhar’s efforts saying that he stood strong when it mattered the most.

According to Shah Rukh Khan, Smit Machchhar showed great resilience and resolve during the most crucial time. He added that 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,” shared Shah Rukh Khan. The superstar further described Machchhar’s act as a ‘true display of courage and duty.’ On a concluding note, noting that the country is proud of him, the actor wished the pilot a speedy recovery.

Smit Machchhar’s Omani co-pilot launched a violent assault inside the cockpit using an emergency crash axe. Despite severe injuries and heavy blood loss, Captain Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door from the inside, enabling passengers and off-duty pilots onboard to overpower the attacker and safely divert the flight to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. After initial treatment in Tabuk, Machchhar was airlifted to Abu Dhabi for advanced medical care. He is on the path to recovery, and his condition is said to be stable.

Ranveer Singh, Sunny Deol, Vicky Kaushal, Tamannaah Bhatia were also among those who took to social media to appreciate and acknowledge Machchhar’s actions. While Ranveer called Captain Smit “courageous” in his post, Vicky wrote, “Braveheart! Capt Smit Machchhar.” Sunny posted, “Captain Smit Machchhar – extraordinary courage and presence of mind when it mattered most. You helped avert a disaster and save lives. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Salute.”

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