Israeli singers Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai tribute to Indian pilot Smit Machchhar goes viral | Trending

PTC Web Desk:  An Israeli-American musician has found an unusual way to say thank you to an Indian pilot, and Internet loves it. Itay Benda learned Shah Rukh Khan's song Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai and sang it as a tribute to Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot who showed great courage during a frightening emergency on a Flydubai flight.

Benda shared the video online and called it his "small way of saying thank you" to Smit Machchhar and to Indians around the world. The song, originally sung by Roop Kumar Rathore, comes from the 2008 film 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi', which starred Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma.

Social media users were quick to praise the effort. One person wrote that it was the most fitting song to thank Captain Smit. Another thanked Benda on behalf of all Indians. A third said his Hindi was good and that his Indian friends were grateful.

What happened on the Flydubai flight

Smit Machchhar was in the spotlight after the mid-air emergency on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. He was seriously injured after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him and tried to crash the aircraft. Even with severe injuries and heavy blood loss, the Indian captain managed to open the cockpit door. That gave crew members and passengers the chance to enter the cockpit and overpower the alleged attacker. A few pilots who were travelling as passengers also helped keep the aircraft steady until it made an emergency landing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Machchhar a "hero" and praised his courage and determination despite his injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also described him as a "true hero".

Also Read | MP Vikram Sahney announces Rs 25 lakh bravery award for Captain Smit Machchhar after flydubai cockpit attack

Also Read | 'Proud, showed immense courage': PM Modi praises Indian pilot for thwarting co-pilot's hijack bid on Flydubai flight

Who is Smit Machchhar?

Machchhar is from Mumbai. His LinkedIn profile shows that he joined flydubai in June 2022. Before that, he spent more than 11 years at SpiceJet, where he rose to the rank of Commander.

Flying was not his first plan. He studied Man-Made Textile Chemistry, Apparel and Textiles at the SASMIRA Institute of Man-Made Textiles and later completed a BBA at Welingkar Institute of Management. Reports say he first thought of joining the family business, but his interest in aviation grew after he attended an aviation seminar as a teenager.

"I was simply doing my duty"

Despite the praise, Machchhar has stayed humble. In a post, he reportedly said he was only doing his duty as a pilot. In a 2025 YouTube podcast, he was asked whether a smooth landing or an on-time arrival mattered more. His answer was that safety comes before everything and that pilots should never chase punctuality at the cost of a safe flight.