Bollywood actors Shilpa Shetty and Jackie Shroff have praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his actions during a mid-air crisis aboard a Flydubai flight, after the incident left him injured but ended with all 174 people on board landing safely.Captain Machchhar was reportedly piloting Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv when his co-pilot allegedly attacked him inside the cockpit. Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene. The aircraft was subsequently diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.Key HighlightsShilpa Shetty and Jackie Shroff praised Captain Smit Machchhar.Machchhar was piloting Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.The captain was reportedly attacked by his co-pilot during the flight.He managed to open the cockpit door despite being injured.Passengers and crew members helped overpower the attacker.All 174 people onboard landed safely.Machchhar underwent surgery and has been reported to be in stable condition.Shilpa Shetty Praises Captain Smit MachchharShilpa Shetty expressed her support for those affected by the incident while praising Captain Machchhar for helping bring the passengers to safety.The actor wrote on social media that her heart went out to everyone affected and expressed “immense respect” for Machchhar for bringing more than 170 lives to safety.Her message came as several public figures reacted to the incident and praised the captain’s actions during the emergency.Jackie Shroff Pays Tribute to the PilotJackie Shroff also paid tribute to Captain Machchhar and the other people who helped prevent the situation from escalating.The actor described them as heroes who worked quietly and praised their efforts in saving lives and averting a major tragedy.Other Bollywood personalities, including R. Madhavan, Paresh Rawal, Sonam Kapoor, Vijay Deverakonda and Kangana Ranaut, have also expressed their support for Machchhar.What Happened on the Flydubai Flight?According to reports, the incident took place aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 while the aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.The co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The plane reportedly experienced a rapid descent during the incident. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew members to intervene.The aircraft was later diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All 174 passengers and crew members were unharmed. The motive behind the alleged attack remains under investigation.Captain Machchhar Undergoes TreatmentMachchhar was taken for medical treatment following the incident and underwent surgery. Reports on October 2 said he was in stable condition while receiving further care. He is originally from Mumbai and has more than a decade of experience flying Boeing 737 aircraft.The incident has drawn widespread attention, with political leaders and celebrities publicly acknowledging the pilot’s actions and expressing wishes for his recovery.
