{
  "id": 11046481,
  "title": "What to know after pilot stabbed on FlyDubai flight to Israel",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/what-to-know-after-pilot-stabbed-on-flydubai-flight-to-israel",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T22:22:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/video/what-to-know-after-pilot-stabbed-on-flydubai-flight-to-israel/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a violent incident in the cockpit. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one pilot tried to stab the other and crash the plane, sparking a fight for control of the aircraft. The plane rapidly lost altitude, dropping from around 10,000 meters to 5,100 meters in about a minute, causing fear among the approximately 170 passengers.\n\nThe incident occurred on flight FZ1073, which had departed Dubai about two and a half hours earlier, at 8:44am local time on Wednesday. A passenger and crew member entered the cockpit to subdue the attacker, and other crew members regained control of the aircraft. The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.\n\nThe pilot who was stabbed, identified as Smit Mashar by the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia, was hospitalized in Tabuk. FlyDubai suspended flights to and from Israel while an investigation into the incident continues. The airline stated that the underlying reasons for the event remained unknown and warned against premature speculation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "\"Extraordinary Bravery\": Netanyahu \"Salutes\" Indian Hero Pilot Smit Machchhar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/extraordinary-bravery-netanyahu-salutes-indian-hero-pilot-smit",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:14:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Netanyahu to Indian Flydubai pilot: A true hero",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/netanyahu-to-indian-flydubai-pilot-a-true-hero",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:40:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Indian pilot credited with saving 174 Israelis on Flydubai flight, says Netanyahu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/indian-pilot-credited-with-saving-174-israelis-on-flydubai-flight",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:41:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Israel's Netanyahu hails Indian pilot Smit Machchar's heroics in saving 174 lives aboard flydubai aircraft",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/israels-netanyahu-hails-indian-pilot-smit-machchars-heroics-in-saving",
        "published": "2026-09-30T20:09:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Israel PM hails Indian pilot wounded in diverted flydubai flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/israel-pm-hails-indian-pilot-wounded-in-diverted-flydubai-flight",
        "published": "2026-09-30T20:45:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Netanyahu on alleged FlyDubai pilot stabbing: \"I don't think it was a hijacking\"",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/netanyahu-on-alleged-flydubai-pilot-stabbing-i-dont-think-it-was-a",
        "published": "2026-09-30T23:42:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}