Actor Salman Khan has praised flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar for his actions during the mid-air emergency involving Flight FZ1073, saying it would be a pleasure to fly with him.
Khan shared his message on X on Saturday, joining a growing number of public figures who have commended the Indian pilot following the incident.
“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,” Khan wrote.
The actor's comments came after Machchhar was seriously injured when his Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked him inside the cockpit while the aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Pilot opened cockpit door despite injuries
The incident took place on Wednesday aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was carrying 182 people, according to The Associated Press. The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar later described the incident during a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. He said he realised that the aircraft was descending and, despite having fallen to the floor after being injured, focused on reaching the cockpit door.
“I knew that the aircraft was going down ... I had fallen to the ground. I told myself that the door is right there, just open it. I managed to do it, and people entered,” he told Modi.
Passengers entered the cockpit after the door was opened and helped restrain the suspect. According to Reuters, the aircraft had undergone two sudden dives in Saudi airspace, losing more than 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds.
The intervention prevented the situation from escalating further. The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely. All passengers and crew survived, while both pilots were taken to hospital. No serious injuries among passengers were reported.
The passengers were subsequently flown to Israel on a replacement aircraft.
Omani co-pilot identified as investigation continues
The co-pilot involved in the incident has been identified in reports as Omani national Hamam Al-Hammami. Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya reported his identity, citing sources familiar with the investigation, although official confirmation of his name has not been publicly provided.
Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot before transferring him to the United Arab Emirates. Israeli officials were also expected to question him as part of the investigation.
Authorities from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, Oman and the United States are involved in examining the incident, according to the Associated Press. Investigators are looking into the sequence of events, the alleged weapon used and the motive behind the attack.
Questions over earlier security concerns
The incident has also prompted scrutiny of the co-pilot's previous aviation career.
Senior intelligence and law enforcement officials cited by ABC News said he had previously been identified as a security risk while working as a trainee co-pilot with Oman Air in 2024. Reports have also said he was subsequently barred from flying in Oman over concerns about extremist views.
Investigators are now examining how he was later able to join flydubai and work as a first officer on an international flight bound for Tel Aviv.
Recent reporting has raised wider questions about aviation security and the screening of pilots, particularly the challenge of dealing with an insider threat within a reinforced cockpit. The AP reported that authorities are examining whether existing security and vetting procedures were adequate.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have yet to establish a definitive motive for the attack.