Bollywood star Varun Dhawan has joined the nation in celebrating the extraordinary courage of Captain Smit Machchhar, who recently averted a potential catastrophe during a flydubai flight. Taking to his Instagram stories, the actor shared a heartfelt tribute, writing, “Salute to our Capt. Smit Machchhar. Your courage and bravery fills all of us with pride. What an inspiration. Jai Hind.” Dhawan’s public show of support comes as the pilot receives widespread recognition across India, with banners expressing gratitude appearing on the streets of Mumbai.
The terrifying incident occurred on September 30 during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to reports, the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the commander in a suspected terror-driven attempt to crash the aircraft, causing the plane to plummet 16,000 feet in just two minutes. Despite being severely injured, Captain Machchhar fought back, later telling Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he knew he had to make one last push to reach the cockpit door to save his passengers. With the help of the flight crew and brave passengers who rushed to the flight deck, the attacker was restrained and the plane made a safe emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, ensuring all 180 people on board survived.
Captain Machchhar is currently recovering from his injuries in a UAE hospital, where India’s ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, confirmed he is in stable condition. His selfless actions have not gone unnoticed by the government, as Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has announced the ‘Visisht Gujarat Garima Award’ to honor his heroism. As the captain continues his recovery, the outpouring of love from public figures like Varun Dhawan underscores the immense respect the nation holds for his quick thinking and life-saving bravery.