{
  "id": 11090789,
  "title": "Passengers and crew foil co-pilot hijack attempt on flydubai flight to Israel",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/passengers-and-crew-foil-co-pilot-hijack-attempt-on-flydubai-flight",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T02:34:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/world/127847/passengers-and-crew-foil-co-pilot-hijack-attempt-on-flydubai-flight-to-israel"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a harrowing mid-air incident on Wednesday when the co-pilot stabbed the captain, causing the plane to plummet 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. The Australian-owned airline's Flight FZ1073 was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia after passengers and off-duty crew breached the cockpit, restrained the attacker, and allowed a second pair of flydubai pilots to regain control of the aircraft. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the wounded captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, unlocked the cockpit door while covered in blood on the floor and passengers discovered the co-pilot hammering at flight control panels. Upon landing, 174 passengers arrived at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on a replacement flydubai plane, with many describing the ordeal as a miracle and a testament to the passengers' quick thinking and courage. Israeli authorities have announced tightened security vetting procedures for all foreign flight crews entering Israeli airspace in response to the incident.",
  "summary": "PASSENGERS and off-duty flight crew aboard a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv successfully thwarted a mid-air disaster on Wednesday after a co-pilot stabbed the captain and sent the aircraft into a terrifying 14,000-foot dive. Flight FZ1073 from Du...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/11090789.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Passengers foil bid to crash Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, Israel says, after co-pilot stabs pilot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/passengers-foil-bid-to-crash-dubai-tel-aviv-flight-israel-says-after-11057673",
        "published": "2026-09-30T22:49:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Passengers foil bid to crash Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, Israel says, after co-pilot stabs pilot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/passengers-foil-bid-to-crash-dubai-tel-aviv-flight-israel-says-after",
        "published": "2026-09-30T23:06:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Passenger videos show aftermath of alleged pilot stabbing on flight to Israel: \"We need help\"",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/passenger-videos-show-aftermath-of-alleged-pilot-stabbing-on-flight",
        "published": "2026-09-30T23:43:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}