An American congressman has joined US President Donald Trump and senior Indian diplomats in praising Captain Smit Machchhar, the seriously injured Indian pilot whose actions aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv are being credited with preventing a potential disaster. Tributes from political leaders, missions, and members of the public continue to pour in from across the world.

Congressman Calls Machchhar a 'True Hero'

Congressman Rich McCormick, who represents Georgia's 7th Congressional District, was among the latest to add his voice to the chorus of appreciation. 'GA-07 is home to an incredible Indian community, and today we honour one of its own,' McCormick said in a post on X on Thursday. 'Captain Smit Machchhar showed extraordinary courage and selflessness, protecting his passengers and crew despite being seriously injured. A true hero,' the Republican congressman added.

Indian Mission Receives Flood of Appreciation

India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, said the Indian mission has been inundated with messages praising the pilot's conduct. 'People continue to send their appreciation and good wishes to Captain Smit Machchhar,' Kwatra said on X, adding, 'We are deeply grateful for every one of these messages and the kindness they carry.' India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York also paid tribute, calling it 'a remarkable act of courage and bravery by Captain Smit Machchhar.'

Trump Recounts the Cockpit Episode

The latest round of tributes followed remarks by President Trump at the White House a day earlier, in which he described Machchhar as a 'hero' and said he had discussed the incident 'at length' with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Trump, the seriously injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others on board to intervene. An Israeli passenger reportedly entered the cockpit and helped overpower an alleged attacker, after which flight personnel brought the aircraft under control. Trump, however, was careful to note the limits of what he knew: 'Now, this is the story that I heard. I don't know if it's true, but that's the story that I got from Bibi and from a couple of — probably early,' he said. He also stressed that no motive had been firmly established for the cockpit incident, stating, 'They said he wanted to crash. They don't know that. They don't know that kind of information.'

International Public Joins in Praise

Beyond official channels, ordinary people abroad have also written to the Indian Embassy in Washington. In one message forwarded by Ambassador Kwatra, a person identifying as a dual citizen of Canada and the United States wrote: 'I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude, and say how proud I am of your country today after the heroic actions of your citizen pilot from India, that saved all those lives by risking his own to do so.' The message concluded: 'The world is very proud as well.' This reflects the breadth of international attention the episode has drawn, spanning India, the United States, and Israel.

What Is Known About the Incident

Captain Machchhar was in command of the Flydubai aircraft on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a cockpit incident occurred. Despite sustaining serious injuries, his reported actions enabled intervention that brought the aircraft under control. He is described as remaining in serious condition. The exact circumstances and motive behind the cockpit confrontation are yet to be officially confirmed, with investigators still piecing together the sequence of events. As wishes for Machchhar's recovery grow louder across nations, calls are also mounting in India for formal recognition of his bravery.