{
  "id": 11128143,
  "title": "‘Tied attacker with zip ties and headphones’: Passengers recall flydubai pilot stabbing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/tied-attacker-with-zip-ties-and-headphones-passengers-recall-flydubai",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T06:49:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/world/flydubai-smit-machchhar-stabbing-passengers-recall-attack-benjamin-netanyahu-narendra-modi-10901757/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A flydubai flight experienced a cockpit confrontation that resulted in a passenger stabbing Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, who was attempting to crash the aircraft. Passengers aboard flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv described the terrifying incident, with some recalling how they and several others managed to overpower the attacker and secure his restraint using their zip ties and headphones. The plane plummeted nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before stabilizing and descending again, prompting passengers to rush to the cockpit. Passengers Peleg Itali and Yaniv Hayoun shared harrowing accounts of the turbulence and the fight that ensued. The Indian pilot, despite suffering severe injuries, fought back, opened the cockpit door, and allowed another pilot to take control, averting a mid-air disaster. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar's bravery, stating that the captain's actions prevented a catastrophic incident and saved the lives of 174 people on board, including Israeli citizens and others. The pilot was airlifted to a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where he was receiving treatment and recovering.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Indian pilot Smit Machchhar stabbed during cockpit confrontation.",
    "Passengers overpowered attacker using zip ties and headphones.",
    "Pilot's bravery prevented mid-air disaster, saving 174 lives."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The heroic actions of the passengers and Captain Smit Machchhar, who fought back despite severe injuries, likely prevented a catastrophic outcome, saving the lives of everyone on board the flight.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}