Bollywood celebrities Vicky Kaushal, Sunny Deol, and Tamannaah Bhatia have joined a nationwide wave of admiration for Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was seriously injured after being attacked by his co-pilot aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 — and who, despite his injuries, helped save 174 lives by forcing open the cockpit door. The tributes, posted on social media on 3 October 2026, reflect growing public recognition of the pilot's extraordinary presence of mind under extreme duress.

How Bollywood Paid Tribute

Vicky Kaushal shared a photograph of Captain Machchhar in the cockpit on his Instagram Stories, captioning it simply: 'Braveheart! Capt Smit Machchhar.' The brevity of the tribute underscored its sincerity.

Sunny Deol went further, saluting both the pilot's courage and composure. In his post, he wrote: '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.'

Tamannaah Bhatia offered a more personal reflection, drawing attention to the sheer weight of responsibility Machchhar was carrying while fighting for his own survival. She wrote: 'Imagine being injured, fighting for your own life and still thinking about the 174 lives that are relying on you. Captain Smit Machchhar, so much respect Praying for your recovery.'

What Happened Aboard Flight FZ1073

The incident unfolded on board Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board. According to reports, Captain Machchhar was attacked and seriously injured inside the cockpit by his co-pilot. Despite his injuries, he reportedly managed to force open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to intervene and regain control of the situation.

The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely — an outcome that, given the circumstances, many have described as near-miraculous. The injured captain was hospitalised following the landing.

PM Modi Calls Him a Hero

In a widely shared video call conducted from his hospital bed, Captain Machchhar recounted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi how he realised the aircraft was plunging and made a final, desperate effort to open the cockpit door. Prime Minister Modi publicly praised Machchhar's courage and presence of mind, calling him a 'hero' and crediting his actions with saving lives and averting a major tragedy.

This is not the first time an Indian pilot has drawn national attention for extraordinary composure under crisis — but the circumstances of this incident, involving an attack within the cockpit itself, make it particularly rare and alarming for aviation safety experts.

Nationwide Outpouring of Support

Beyond Bollywood, tributes have poured in from across India, with social media platforms carrying messages of solidarity, prayers for Machchhar's recovery, and calls for stricter cockpit safety protocols. The incident has also reignited debate about crew screening procedures and in-flight security measures on international carriers operating with Indian nationals.

Captain Smit Machchhar remains hospitalised; as public support continues to build, the nation waits anxiously for updates on his recovery.