Taking to his social media handle on X (formerly Twitter), Khan posted a warm, heartfelt salute to the Gujarat-born commander, who sustained serious stab wounds inside the flight deck when attacked by his co-pilot mid-air:
“Kamaal kar diya pilot ji, hum sab aap ko salute karte hain will be a pleasure to fly with u.. Well done bro.. Capt #SmitMachchhar.”
Kamaal kar diya pilot ji, hum sab aap ko salute karte hain will be a pleasure to fly with u.. Well done bro.. Capt #SmitMachchhar
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) October 2, 2026
The Ordeal: How Captain Machchhar Saved Over 170 Lives
The incident occurred aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. Approximately two and a half hours into the flight, while cruising over Saudi airspace, the co-pilot launched a violent, unprovoked assault on Captain Machchhar inside the cockpit, attempting to crash the commercial airliner.
The Dramatic Dive: The aircraft made a sudden uncontrolled descent, plunging more than 17,000 feet in under two minutes as emergency squawk codes (7700 and 7500) were triggered.
The "Last Push" That Saved Everyone: Recounting the harrowing sequence from his hospital bed during an emotional video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar explained that despite bleeding heavily from head and hand injuries, he refused to lose consciousness:
“I had suffered so many injuries that I had collapsed. At that time, I could feel that the aircraft was going down. I knew this was the last push, that the door was right there. I told myself just open it... I managed to do it and people entered.”
Safe Emergency Touchdown: Unlocking the armored flight deck door allowed passengers and cabin crew to enter and restrain the assailant. A relief flight crew onboard took command of the controls, executing a safe emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia with zero passenger fatalities.
Recovery and Investigation
Captain Machchhar is currently recuperating from head and orthopedic injuries under medical care. International aviation security regulators and UAE authorities have launched a formal inquiry into cockpit security protocols, while former colleagues and domestic airlines have widely hailed him for preventing what could have been a catastrophic international tragedy.
Cultural Take:
In an industry where high-stakes aviation thrillers frequently dominate screenplays (Neerja, Runway 34, Yodha), Salman Khan’s public tribute highlights the genuine reverence people hold for real-life frontline courage. Captain Smit Machchhar’s instinctive decision to unlock the flight deck despite severe trauma stands out as a testament to professional duty under extreme duress.
