Complete list of cricketers who praised captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery during the alleged hijacking attempt on the Israel-bound flight

Several former Indian cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar, have praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage after he helped prevent a major mid-air tragedy on a Flydubai flight.

Machchhar was piloting the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight when his co-pilot allegedly attacked him and attempted to sabotage the aircraft. Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar helped bring the situation under control before the flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Machchhar has since been hailed as a hero for his actions during the incident. Interestingly, aviation was not his childhood dream, as he had initially planned to join his family's textile business before developing an interest in flying at the age of 19. Throughout this article, we will share complete details about the cricketers who praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery.

Flydubai FZ1073 mid-air cockpit attack: What happened to Captain Smit Machchhar

Captain Smit Machchhar was reportedly attacked by his co-pilot around two hours after the flight took off from Israel. According to the details provided, the co-pilot told Machchhar that he was going to rest before allegedly returning to the cockpit and attacking him with a pocket knife. Machchhar suffered serious injuries and began bleeding heavily.

During the attack, the aircraft reportedly dropped around 14,000 feet in a minute. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to press the button beside his seat that opened the cockpit door. Passengers then noticed blood coming from the cockpit and rushed forward to help. Some passengers, including relief pilots, helped bring the situation under control, while a doctor among them treated Machchhar and helped stop the excessive bleeding.

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The aircraft was eventually brought under control and landed safely, with all 180 passengers reported safe. Machchhar is currently in stable condition after the incident. His actions have drawn widespread praise, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling him a “hero” and saying that his courage and resolve helped save lives and avert a major tragedy.

Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and other cricketers salute the Pilot's bravery

The incident has received strong support from the sporting community, with several cricketers praising Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery. Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Chopra were among those who applauded the Indian pilot for his actions during the incident.

Machchhar's courage has also received praise outside India. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commended the pilot and others who helped prevent what could have been a major tragedy.

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Several cricketers shared their reactions on X after learning about the incident. Here is a look at how Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Chopra and other cricketers reacted to Captain Smit Machchhar's bravery.

Nation salutes Captain Smit Machchhar: Reactions and investigation update

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage during the incident, saying the Indian pilot helped prevent a tragedy similar to the 9/11 attacks. PM Modi said Machchhar showed remarkable patience, presence of mind and courage while dealing with the situation. He also said that he had spoken to Machchhar's family and enquired about his health.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery and said the pilot helped prevent a catastrophic mid-air disaster. Passengers reportedly saw the aircraft rapidly lose altitude as a fight broke out in the cockpit. Machchhar was seriously injured but reportedly managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene.

Machchhar is an experienced pilot who currently works as a direct-entry captain with flydubai. He has more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience and around 9,750 flying hours, mainly on Boeing 737 aircraft. Before joining flydubai, he spent 11 years with SpiceJet, where he worked as a Line Training Captain.