Bollywood stars salute pilot who thwarted mid-air cockpit attack

“It’s not easy to stare adversity in the face,” Shah Rukh Khan wrote, joining a chorus of national praise for Captain Smit Machchhar. The pilot sustained serious injuries while subduing an attacker during a September 30 flight, an act of defiance that prevented a potential disaster over the skies of the Middle East.

Editorial·October 3, 2026·reads: 435

Bollywood stars salute pilot who thwarted mid-air cockpit attack

The crisis unfolded on a flydubai service from Dubai to Tel Aviv, when an Omani co-pilot allegedly attempted to bring down the plane. The ensuing struggle sent the aircraft into a harrowing 16,000-foot descent in under two minutes. Despite his wounds, Machchhar resisted the assailant until passengers and crew could breach the flight deck to assist, eventually guiding the jet to a safe emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Following the incident, the pilot’s family in Rajkot expressed profound gratitude for the public support. His cousin, Pulkit Machchhar, noted that the family feels immense pride in the lives saved during the ordeal. Salman Khan also publicly commended the captain, stating it would be an honor to fly with him. All 180 people on board survived the flight, and the captain is currently recovering from the injuries sustained during the confrontation.