{
  "id": 11156840,
  "title": "‘I pulled the controls’: Hero Israeli passenger reveals he saved flydubai flight thanks to popular TV show",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/i-pulled-the-controls-hero-israeli-passenger-reveals-he-saved",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T09:25:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/world/flydubai-fz1073-israeli-passenger-yaniv-hayun-smit-machchhar-cockpit-hero-10902167/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Yaniv Hayun, an Israeli passenger, recounted his account of how he and another passenger took control of a flydubai flight after the injured Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar, opened the cockpit door. Despite Machchhar's injuries, he managed to open the door and then collapsed, allowing the passengers to enter. The confrontation between the two pilots caused the aircraft to plummet nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. Passengers and off-duty pilots quickly regained control, restraining the attacker and securing the aircraft. The emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, was successful, with both pilots taken to the hospital. The motive for the cockpit incident remains unknown and is under investigation.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayun saved flydubai flight by taking control.",
    "Injured Indian pilot opened cockpit door, then collapsed.",
    "Emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, successful."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "'I Watch Mayday, Mr Prime Minister': TV Show Helped Flydubai Hero Passenger Yaniv Hayun Take Control Of Flight In Cockpit Crisis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/i-watch-mayday-mr-prime-minister-tv-show-helped-flydubai-hero",
        "published": "2026-10-01T07:40:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "‘I watch Mayday’: Israeli passenger says Canadian documentary helped him take control of flydubai flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/i-watch-mayday-israeli-passenger-says-canadian-documentary-helped-him",
        "published": "2026-10-01T08:39:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}