Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Vicky Kaushal and others celebs praise flydubai 'Dhurandhar' pilot Smit Machchhar: 'Well done, bro'

Bollywood celebrities are currently pouring love and giving salute for the bravery of Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured in an alleged cockpit attack on a Flydubai flight. From Salman Khan and Ranveer Singh to Vicky Kaushal, R Madhavan and Vijay Deverakonda, several celebrities praised the pilot for his actions during the incident and wished him a speedy recovery.

Captain Machchhar was reportedly injured after an alleged attack inside the cockpit while the flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite being hurt, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing cabin crew and passengers to intervene. The incident has since drawn major attention, with celebrities taking to social media to salute the pilot.

Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal praise Captain Smit

Several Bollywood stars shared messages for Captain Machchhar after details of the incident emerged. Ranveer Singh described the pilot as courageous and praised his actions while wishing him a speedy recovery.


Salman Khan took to X (formerly Twitter) to salute Captain Smit Machchhar and wrote, "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."



Vicky Kaushal also shared a photograph of Captain Machchhar inside the cockpit on his Instagram Stories. Alongside the picture, he wrote, “Braveheart! Capt Smit Machchhar.”



R Madhavan shared Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement about the incident and also wished the pilot a speedy recovery. Madhavan described Captain Machchhar as a “true hero” for his actions during the emergency.

Vijay Deverakonda also praised the pilot for remaining calm during what was a life-threatening situation. He wished Captain Machchhar well and said that what he had faced and done was incredible.




Several other film personalities also joined the tributes. Actor-politician Ravi Kishan praised Captain Machchhar’s dedication to duty, courage and presence of mind. He described the pilot as an example of unwavering commitment and said his actions were a matter of national pride.

Paresh Rawal, Shilpa Shetty and Jackie Shroff react

Paresh Rawal paid tribute to Captain Machchhar in his own style. Referring to the pilot’s surname, the actor recalled Nana Patekar’s popular dialogue from the 1994 film Krantiveer. Shilpa Shetty also expressed her support for the pilot and everyone affected by the incident. She praised Captain Machchhar for helping bring more than 170 people on board to safety.

Jackie Shroff also shared a tribute, praising Captain Machchhar and the others who helped prevent what could have been a major tragedy. He described them as heroes who worked without seeking attention.

Actors Sonam Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut were also among the celebrities who expressed their support for the pilot.

The incident has also led to Captain Machchhar being described online as a “Dhurandhar” pilot, with the term gaining attention among social media users.

What happened on the Flydubai flight?

The Flydubai flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. According to Israeli officials, the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Machchhar inside the cockpit and stabbed him.

Despite suffering injuries and reportedly bleeding on the cockpit floor, the Mumbai-born pilot managed to trigger the emergency release and open the cockpit door. This allowed members of the cabin crew and passengers to enter the cockpit and overpower the alleged attacker.



Two off-duty Flydubai pilots were reportedly travelling as passengers on the same flight. They stepped in and eventually landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk.

The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children. The incident could have had serious consequences, but the actions of the people on board helped bring the aircraft to safety.

Captain Machchhar is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Tabuk, where doctors are monitoring his condition. Meanwhile, messages of support from Bollywood celebrities and other public figures continue to pour in for the pilot following the incident.