{
  "id": 11130516,
  "title": "Israel PM hails Indian pilot of rerouted Flydubai flight for averting disaster",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/israel-pm-hails-indian-pilot-of-rerouted-flydubai-flight-for-averting",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T06:50:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2033952/israel-pm-hails-indian-pilot-of-rerouted-flydubai-flight-for-averting-disaster"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the passengers and crew aboard a Flydubai flight that made an emergency landing in Tel Aviv after a co-pilot allegedly tried to crash the plane, averting what he called a \"catastrophic mid-air disaster.\" The plane, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, lost around 17,000 feet of altitude in a matter of minutes, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. All 174 passengers, 166 of whom were Israeli, were reported safe. Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed the passengers and the wounded pilot, identified as Smit Machchhar, for their courage in overpowered the attacker. The Indian embassy confirmed Machchhar was being treated in a Saudi hospital. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an attempted terror attack, while the UAE's Foreign Minister described it as an attempt against Israelis, the UAE, and the Abraham Accords. US President Donald Trump described the co-pilot as potentially a \"terrorist or whack-job.\"",
  "summary": "Israel’s leader credited the pilot and passengers of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight with averting a catastrophe on Wednesday after they overpowered a co-pilot who allegedly tried to crash the aircraft, forcing an emergency landing. Passengers described rushing the cockpit after the plane suddenly plummeted , losing around 17,000 feet of altitude in the span of a minute, according to the Flightradar24…",
  "key_points": [
    "Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu lauds Flydubai co-pilot Smit Machchhar for averting disaster.",
    "Flight lost 17,000 feet in minutes, forced emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.",
    "Machchhar, wounded, treated in Saudi hospital; incident described as attempted terror attack."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "What happened on FlyDubai flight FZ1073?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/what-happened-on-flydubai-flight-fz1073",
        "published": "2026-10-01T04:54:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Online storm: Outrageous coverage of Flydubai flight drama",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/online-storm-outrageous-coverage-of-flydubai-flight-drama",
        "published": "2026-10-01T05:42:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Who is the 'hero' Indian pilot who was stabbed on Israel-bound flight?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/who-is-the-hero-indian-pilot-who-was-stabbed-on-israel-bound-flight",
        "published": "2026-10-01T06:01:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "\"Lucky\": What flydubai Indian Pilot Once Said About Having Doctors On Flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/lucky-what-flydubai-indian-pilot-once-said-about-having-doctors-on",
        "published": "2026-10-01T06:22:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arabian Post",
        "title": "Flydubai halts Israel flights during FZ1073 investigation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/flydubai-halts-israel-flights-during-fz1073-investigation",
        "published": "2026-10-01T06:30:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Attacker's identity and motive unknown after flydubai flight to Israel escapes disaster after pilot stabbed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/attackers-identity-and-motive-unknown-after-flydubai-flight-to-israel",
        "published": "2026-10-01T07:35:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Pawan Kalyan, Jagan hail Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for saving 174 lives on flydubai flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/pawan-kalyan-jagan-hail-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-saving-174",
        "published": "2026-10-01T07:40:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}