{
  "id": 11086064,
  "title": "\"Showed Immense Courage\": PM Modi Praises flydubai's Pilot Smit Machchhar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/showed-immense-courage-pm-modi-praises-flydubais-pilot-smit-machchhar",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T02:06:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NDTV",
    "slug": "ndtv",
    "url": "https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/captain-smit-machchhar-showed-immense-courage-on-flydubai-plane-pm-modi-praises-indian-pilot-12122858"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian citizen and flydubai pilot, has been praised for his bravery in averting a potential disaster on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. According to The National Business and The National UAE, the Boeing 737 plunged nearly 20,000ft during a cockpit altercation, before diverting to Saudi Arabia.\n\nThe incident involved an altercation between Captain Machchhar and his co-pilot, who allegedly tried to crash the plane. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the co-pilot stabbed Captain Machchhar and attempted to crash the plane with everyone on board. Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, Captain Machchhar fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker, as per The National UAE.\n\nCaptain Machchhar, from Ghatkopar East in Mumbai, has been recognised for his actions by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised his \"immense courage\" and \"unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others\". According to NDTV, Captain Machchhar had been working with flydubai for four years. The Indian embassy in Riyadh reported that he was in a stable condition.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Israel to expand security checks on pilots after flydubai airplane attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/israel-to-expand-security-checks-on-pilots-after-flydubai-airplane",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:26:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "flydubai suspends flights to Israel after FZ1073 'security incident'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/flydubai-suspends-flights-to-israel-after-fz1073-security-incident",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:59:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Flydubai says flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/flydubai-says-flights-to-and-from-israel-will-be-suspended-while-the",
        "published": "2026-09-30T20:19:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Flydubai flights to Israel suspended amid investigation into attempted hijacking, airline says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/flydubai-flights-to-israel-suspended-amid-investigation-into",
        "published": "2026-09-30T20:26:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "What to know about the terrifying flydubai flight bound for Israel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/what-to-know-about-the-terrifying-flydubai-flight-bound-for-israel",
        "published": "2026-09-30T22:12:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar hailed hero for averting disaster on Israel flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhar-hailed-hero-for-averting-disaster-on",
        "published": "2026-10-01T00:45:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Who Is Captain Smit Machchhar? The flydubai Hero Pilot Who Saved 180 Lives",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/who-is-captain-smit-machchhar-the-flydubai-hero-pilot-who-saved-180",
        "published": "2026-10-01T02:16:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}