
Bollywood stars and high-ranking officials praise Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage after a mid-air cockpit attack.
Bollywood celebrities and leaders praise Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage after he was seriously injured in an alleged cockpit attack during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
AI-generated summary
Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk after an alleged cockpit attack on September 30.
"There are heroes, and then there are those who show us what true courage looks like. Captain Smit Machchhar, you are a hero in every sense of the word. Wishing you strength and a speedy recovery," Devgn wrote.
"Captain Smit Machchhar, you stood strong when it mattered the most!! It's not easy to stare adversity in the face and put one's safety on the line… but you did just that to protect those onboard and showed us what being a Captain entails. A true display of courage and duty. Wishing you a speedy recovery, the country is proud of you…" Khan wrote on X.
"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," he wrote. (You've done a fantastic job, pilot-ji, we all salute you.)
"It takes another grain of courage to be fighting for your own life but in that split second, put the lives of all others before yours. And that's what captain Smit Machchhar did in the face of the toughest times. And for that, the entire country & humankind is behind you! Thank you for your selfless, courageous and brave heart, you are an inspiration for the generations to come," Johar wrote.
Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when Captain Machchhar was seriously injured in an alleged attack by the co-pilot inside the cockpit.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. Crew members and passengers then stepped in to bring the situation under control. The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority has praised Captain Machchhar, the flight crew and the passengers who helped. On Friday, the authority said he had safely returned to the UAE, was in good condition and was receiving medical treatment.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has visited the captain and praised his courage. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to him by video call. Machchhar has spoken about the incident since, telling Gulf News that he "couldn't let everybody else die."

Five UAE humanitarian aid convoys comprising 55 trucks and 617 tonnes of food and shelter supplies entered Gaza under Operation Gallant Knight 3.
Saudi Arabia deported 9,992 residency, border security, and labour law violators in one week following nationwide inspections, the Ministry of Interior announced.

Four injured Pakistani crew members and the remains of three sailors killed during the hijacking of tanker MT Honour 25 have been repatriated to Pakistan from Addis Ababa, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's directives.

The US aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush arrived off Phuket, Thailand, on October 4, 2026, with about 4,800 personnel for a rest-and-recreation visit from October 4 to 9, following Middle East operations. Crew will come ashore via Phuket Deep Sea Port, with local officials estimating each service member could spend up to 3,000 baht daily, boosting local businesses. This marks the second US carrier visit to Thailand in weeks, after the Abraham Lincoln’s port call at Laem Chabang.

Hollywood actress and former UN special envoy Angelina Jolie posted satellite images on Instagram showing Gaza before and after the war, stating that 82% of structures were damaged as of June 16, 2026, with two-thirds destroyed, and that 94% of Gaza's population needs shelter aid as winter approaches, citing ongoing restrictions on aid delivery.

Saudi air defences intercepted three Houthi ballistic missiles targeting the Asir region on Friday, with debris injuring an Asian expatriate and damaging a prayer room and vehicles in Ahad Rafidah governorate. A separate projectile struck a school in Najran, causing material damage but no casualties.