Captain Smit Machchhar has emerged as a symbol of courage after a mid-air incident aboard a Flydubai flight left him seriously injured. Despite the dangerous situation, the Indian pilot reportedly displayed remarkable composure and presence of mind, helping ensure the safety of those on board. His actions have drawn praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several Indian celebrities. Actors Ravi Kishan, Raveena Tandon and Sonam Kapoor were among those who lauded Machchhar’s bravery on social media. Chef Kunal Kapoor, Shamita Shetty and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni also praised the pilot for putting passengers’ safety before his own during the emergency. Several Indian celebrities took to social media to praise Captain Machchhar following the incident. Raveena Tandon shared multiple posts on her Instagram Stories, highlighting his bravery and role in protecting passengers. Sonam Kapoor also lauded the pilot’s courage. Kangana Ranaut, meanwhile, re-shared Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s post highlighting Machchhar’s presence of mind during the incident. Chef Kunal Kapoor also praised the pilot in a heartfelt Instagram post. He highlighted how Machchhar continued to fight to protect those on board despite being seriously injured. Kapoor described the pilot’s actions as an example of immense courage, particularly his decision to put the safety of others before himself during a life-threatening situation. Ravi Kishan showered praise on Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage and presence of mind during the Flydubai mid-air incident. Sharing a post on social media, the actor-politician called Machchhar an embodiment of unwavering dedication to duty, courage and extraordinary wisdom. He wrote, “Kartavya ke prati atoot nishtha, adamya sahas aur asadharan soojhboojh ka naam hain Captain Smit Machchhar.” (Captain Smit Machchhar is the epitome of unwavering loyalty to duty, indomitable courage, and extraordinary wisdom.) Kishan further praised the pilot for protecting passengers despite being seriously injured, writing, “Gambhir roop se ghayal hone ke bawajood swayam ki chinta kiye bina saikdon logon ke jeevan ki raksha ke liye jis sahas, dhairya aur kartavyaparayanata ka unhone parichay diya, vah na keval anukaraniya hai, balki pratyek Bharatiya ke liye garv aur prerna ka vishay hai.” He concluded by saluting Machchhar’s bravery and praying for his recovery: “Captain Smit Machchhar ki veerta, sahas aur samarpan ko koti-koti naman. Ishwar se unke sheeghra swasth hone evam uttam swasthya ki kamna karta hoon.” Shamita Shetty and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni were also among the celebrities who expressed their admiration for Machchhar online. The incident took place aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. An altercation reportedly took place inside the cockpit while the aircraft was in flight. According to accounts cited by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one pilot attacked the other, leaving Machchhar seriously injured. Despite his condition, Machchhar reportedly managed to unlock the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to intervene. The aircraft was eventually diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and landed safely. Captain Smit Machchhar is a seasoned commercial pilot serving as a direct-entry captain with UAE-based Flydubai. He has more than 13 years of experience in commercial aviation and approximately 9,750 flying hours, primarily operating Boeing 737 aircraft. Before joining Flydubai, Machchhar spent around 11 years with SpiceJet, where he served as a Line Training Captain. His extensive experience in commercial aviation has now brought him widespread recognition following the Flydubai incident. Senior Copy Editor at Times Now, previously associated with OTTplay and Pinkvilla. Experienced in shaping compelling stories, refining content, and de... View More