{
  "id": 11016986,
  "title": "Israeli PM hails Indian pilot wounded in diverted flydubai flight",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/israeli-pm-hails-indian-pilot-wounded-in-diverted-flydubai-flight",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T19:47:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/israeli-pm-hails-indian-pilot-wounded-in-diverted-flydubai-flight/article71530244.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured during an incident on a diverted Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The Prime Minister called Machchhar a \"true hero\" for resisting the co-pilot, who was allegedly trying to crash the aircraft, despite being stabbed and seriously hurt. Machchhar successfully opened the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to overpower the attacker, thereby averting a potential mid-air disaster. The flight, which had 174 passengers on board, including Israeli citizens and others, transmitted emergency signals and made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Tabuk. Machchhar, a 13-year veteran of commercial flying with over 9,500 hours of experience, joined Flydubai as a captain in June 2022 after working with SpiceJet for 11 years prior.",
  "summary": "Netanyahu said Mr. Machchhar saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals",
  "key_points": [
    "Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu praises wounded Indian Captain Smit Machchhar.",
    "Machchhar resisted co-pilot attempting to crash Flydubai flight.",
    "Flight with 174 passengers landed safely at Tabuk Airport."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Indian Flydubai pilot who was stabbed no longer in life-threatening condition",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/indian-flydubai-pilot-who-was-stabbed-no-longer-in-life-threatening",
        "published": "2026-09-30T18:17:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Pilot attacked in flydubai altercation Indian",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/pilot-attacked-in-flydubai-altercation-indian",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:48:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Indian flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar unlocked cockpit, named assailant, while wounded - report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/indian-flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhar-unlocked-cockpit-named-assailant",
        "published": "2026-09-30T20:26:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}