{
  "id": 11149776,
  "title": "Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar stable after emergency surgery in Saudi Arabia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-stable-after-emergency-surgery-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T08:32:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Voice of Ukraine",
    "slug": "new-voice-of-ukraine",
    "url": "https://english.nv.ua/nation/flydubai-hero-captain-stable-after-mid-air-assault-50646224.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian national Smit Machchhar, captain of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, is in stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery in Saudi Arabia following a cockpit attack on Oct. 1. The incident occurred during the flight from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, Israel, when Machchhar, an Indian national, was stabbed by his co-pilot, an Omani citizen. The co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft into the ground. Following the attack, the Boeing 737, carrying approximately 180 passengers, executed an emergency landing at King Faisal Air Base in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the crew and passengers who subduing the assailant, preventing a 9/11-style catastrophe. Machchhar, who had over 11 years of commercial flight experience with SpiceJet, is now recovering in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The Indian government is providing full assistance, coordinating with Saudi authorities. Flydubai has temporarily suspended all scheduled flights to and from Israel while the underlying causes and circumstances of the incident are under formal investigation.",
  "summary": "Indian national Smit Machchhar, Flydubai Flight FZ1073 captain, who sustained severe stab wounds when he was attacked inside the cockpit by his co-pilot, underwent emergency surgery in Saudi Arabia, The Times of Israel wrote on Oct. 1.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "‘Israel’s 9/11 averted’: India’s Smit Machchhar praised for preventing flydubai crash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/israels-9-11-averted-indias-smit-machchhar-praised-for-preventing",
        "published": "2026-10-01T09:06:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}