Shilpa Shetty, Jackie Shroff hail Captain Smit Machchhar for saving 174 lives on Flydubai flight
Synopsis
A Mumbai pilot allegedly attacked by his own co-pilot mid-flight still managed to open the cockpit door, enabling crew to overpower the attacker and land all 174 people safely in Saudi Arabia. PM Modi, Shilpa Shetty, Jackie Shroff and several Bollywood stars have hailed Captain Smit Machchhar as a national hero — and the incident is reigniting urgent questions about global cockpit security protocols.
Key Takeaways
Captain Smit Machchhar was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 on the Dubai–Tel Aviv route.
Despite serious injuries, Machchhar opened the cockpit door, enabling crew and passengers to overpower the attacker.
The flight made an emergency landing at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia , with all 174 onboard confirmed safe.
PM Narendra Modi and Bollywood actors including Shilpa Shetty , Jackie Shroff , R.
Madhavan , and Kangana Ranaut praised the pilot on social media.
Captain Machchhar, a Mumbai native with over 10 years of experience on the Boeing 737 , is reportedly in stable condition and receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia .
Bollywood actors Shilpa Shetty and Jackie Shroff, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other prominent figures, have lauded Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery during a mid-air crisis aboard a Flydubai flight, after his actions reportedly saved the lives of all 174 passengers and crew onboard.
What Happened Mid-Air
Captain Machchhar was at the controls of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, when he was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot inside the cockpit. Despite sustaining serious injuries, Machchhar reportedly managed to force open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to intervene and overpower the attacker. The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with all 174 people onboard confirmed safe.
What Shilpa Shetty and Jackie Shroff Said
Shilpa Shetty was among the first from the film fraternity to publicly express her admiration. “Heart goes out to everyone affected. And immense respect for Captain Smit Machchhar for bringing over 170 lives to safety,” she wrote. Actor Jackie Shroff paid tribute to the captain and others who stepped in. “Some heroes work in silence! All my respects to Captain Smit Machchhar and the other brave heroes for saving lives and averting a massive tragedy,” he said.
PM Modi and the Wider Response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media to commend the pilot’s courage. “Captain Smit Machchhar has shown the world the highest form of courage. Without fearing for his own life, he fought valiantly and prevented another 9/11 like attack from happening. 140 crore Indians salute Captain Smit and are praying for his well-being,” Modi wrote. Actors R. Madhavan, Paresh Rawal, Sonam Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, and Vijay Deverakonda also took to social media to honour the captain’s bravery.
Captain Machchhar’s Condition and Background
According to reports, Captain Machchhar was hospitalised for surgery following the incident and is currently said to be in stable condition, undergoing treatment in Saudi Arabia. A Mumbai native, he is a commercial pilot with more than 10 years of experience flying Boeing 737 aircraft. This comes amid growing global concerns over aviation security and cockpit safety protocols, with the incident drawing comparisons to the 2015 Germanwings tragedy where a co-pilot deliberately crashed a flight.
What Happens Next
Aviation authorities and Flydubai have not yet issued a detailed public statement on the co-pilot or a formal investigation timeline, according to available reports. Calls for a thorough inquiry into cockpit security screening are expected to intensify. Captain Machchhar’s recovery and the outcome of any formal investigation will be closely watched by aviation bodies and the Indian government alike.
Point of View
And rightly so. Yet the harder question being glossed over in the wave of praise is systemic: how did a co-pilot allegedly reach a point of violent intent without any pre-flight red flag? The 2015 Germanwings disaster prompted a global overhaul of mental health screening for pilots, but enforcement has been uneven. India, which trains and exports a large number of commercial pilots globally, has a stake in ensuring those protocols are airtight. Captain Machchhar’s heroism deserves every salute it gets — but the safest outcome would be a world where no pilot ever needs to be that brave.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on Flydubai Flight FZ1073?
Captain Smit Machchhar was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot inside the cockpit while piloting Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite sustaining serious injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing crew and passengers to subdue the attacker. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with all 174 people onboard safe.
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Captain Smit Machchhar is a Mumbai-based commercial pilot with over 10 years of experience flying Boeing 737 aircraft. He was the commanding officer of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 and is currently reported to be in stable condition, undergoing treatment in Saudi Arabia after surgery.
What did PM Modi say about Captain Smit Machchhar?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media that Captain Smit Machchhar ‘has shown the world the highest form of courage’ and ‘prevented another 9/11 like attack from happening,’ adding that ‘140 crore Indians salute Captain Smit.’
How did Shilpa Shetty and Jackie Shroff react to the incident?
Shilpa Shetty wrote that her ‘heart goes out to everyone affected’ and expressed ‘immense respect’ for the captain for bringing over 170 lives to safety. Jackie Shroff called Machchhar and the others involved ‘heroes who work in silence’ and paid tribute to them for averting a massive tragedy.
What is the current status of Captain Machchhar and the investigation?
Captain Machchhar is reportedly in stable condition and receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia following surgery. Flydubai and aviation authorities have not yet released a detailed public statement on the co-pilot or a formal investigation timeline, according to available reports.
