Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan took to social media to commend Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery and quick thinking during a mid-air crisis aboard a Flydubai flight. Khan highlighted the captain's willingness to put his own safety at risk to protect the 174 passengers and crew members onboard, calling it a true display of courage and duty.

Machchhar was seriously wounded when his co-pilot attacked him in the cockpit of flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite his injuries, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to intervene. The aircraft was safely diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Khan wished the captain a full recovery and expressed that the entire nation was proud of his actions.

Multiple entertainment industry figures, including actor Anil Kapoor, also publicly acknowledged Machchhar's heroism on social platforms, recognizing his extraordinary composure under life-threatening circumstances.