Puri, Oct 2: Internationally acclaimed sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik has paid tribute to Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar through a special sand sculpture at Puri Beach in Odisha.
The artwork carries a heartfelt message: “Salute to #CaptainSmitMachchhar — Get Well Soon!”
Through the sculpture, Pattnaik expressed admiration for the captain's reported courage and his efforts to protect the lives of passengers aboard a Flydubai flight.
Sharing images of the sand artwork on social media, Pattnaik extended his wishes for the pilot's speedy recovery and good health.
A heartfelt salute to Captain Smit Machchhar for his exceptional courage, selfless sacrifice, and unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. 🙏
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) October 2, 2026
Praying for his speedy recovery, renewed strength, and good health.
His extraordinary bravery has touched hearts across the… pic.twitter.com/fWZAx0ZiYD
“A heartfelt salute to Captain Smit Machchhar for his exceptional courage, selfless sacrifice, and unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others,” Pattnaik wrote.
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The artist said the captain's courage has earned admiration from people across the world. He added that, as an Indian, he felt proud and, as an artist, wanted to express that pride through his art while praying for the captain's recovery.
The sand sculpture at Puri Beach has turned the artist's tribute into a visual message of gratitude and hope.
Machchhar, a Mumbai-based pilot with roots in Gujarat, reportedly has nearly 9,750 hours of flying experience, most of it on Boeing 737 aircraft. Before joining Flydubai as a direct-entry captain in 2022, he spent more than a decade with SpiceJet and rose to the position of Line Training Captain.
