{
  "id": 11118744,
  "title": "Indian pride swells as flydubai pilot who saved 174 lives hailed as ‘absolute hero’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/indian-pride-swells-as-flydubai-pilot-who-saved-174-lives-hailed-as",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T05:18:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3369424/indian-pride-swells-flydubai-pilot-who-saved-174-lives-hailed-absolute-hero"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A pilot from India, Captain Smit Machchhar, has become an overnight hero after performing a brave act during a potential mid-air hijack on a flydubai flight. The incident occurred on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where Machchhar's co-pilot allegedly attacked him with a knife and attempted to crash the aircraft. Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing the crew and passengers to overpower the attacker and prevent a catastrophe. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, praised Machchhar's heroism on social media, describing him as an \"absolute hero\" who saved 174 lives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commended the pilot's \"extraordinary bravery.\" Social media users in India hailed Machchhar as a hero, with some even suggesting he could star in a Bollywood film as the leading man. The incident occurred during a routine flight, and it is unclear what motivated the attacker. The airline, flydubai, has suspended flights between its hub in the UAE and Israel while the investigation continues.",
  "summary": "An Indian pilot’s extraordinary bravery during an apparent mid-air hijack attempt has ignited a wave of national pride, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailing the pilot as a hero for saving 174 lives on a flydubai plane – adding a dramatic chapter to a career that began almost by chance. Captain Smit Machchhar was critically injured after taking the brunt of a knife attack on Wednesday, but…",
  "key_points": [
    "Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar saves 174 lives in mid-air hijack",
    "Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls Machchhar an absolute hero",
    "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praises Machchhar's bravery"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "‘Capt Smit Machchhar is a Hero’: PM Modi hails brave FlyDubai pilot for ‘averting great tragedy’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/capt-smit-machchhar-is-a-hero-pm-modi-hails-brave-flydubai-pilot-for",
        "published": "2026-10-01T02:21:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Global leaders, diplomats to passengers: How Indian pilot Smit Machchhar became a hero for the world",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/global-leaders-diplomats-to-passengers-how-indian-pilot-smit",
        "published": "2026-10-01T04:02:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Indian airline captain hailed as ‘hero’ after cockpit stabbing on Flydubai flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/indian-airline-captain-hailed-as-hero-after-cockpit-stabbing-on",
        "published": "2026-10-01T04:26:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "‘A hero’: Trump on Indian pilot Smit Machchhar after mid-air cockpit attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/a-hero-trump-on-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-after-mid-air-cockpit",
        "published": "2026-10-01T05:19:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "President Murmu, PM Modi praise Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for saving Israel-bound flight from crash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/president-murmu-pm-modi-praise-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-saving",
        "published": "2026-10-01T05:44:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Indian captain praised as hero after preventing mid-air disaster on Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/indian-captain-praised-as-hero-after-preventing-mid-air-disaster-on",
        "published": "2026-10-01T05:55:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}