{
  "id": 11159192,
  "title": "Smit Machchhar: Who is the Indian flydubai pilot hailed a ‘hero’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/smit-machchhar-who-is-the-indian-flydubai-pilot-hailed-a-hero",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T09:44:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/smit-machchhar-flydubai-pilot-who-is-he/article71531666.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has been praised as a \"hero\" by world leaders following his heroic actions during a mid-air incident on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. On September 30, 2026, Machchhar bravely thwarted a potential disaster when his co-pilot stabbed him and attempted to crash the plane. Passengers and crew worked together to keep the passengers safe while Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door and activate the release. The flight immediately made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where Machchhar is currently recovering in a hospital. Machchhar's journey to aviation began with a different career path, initially studying textile engineering and management in Mumbai, before discovering his passion for flying at an aviation seminar. He worked for over 11 years at SpiceJet before joining flydubai in 2022, where he has since been working as a captain. The motive behind his co-pilot's actions remains under investigation by authorities.",
  "summary": "Flydubai plane FZ1073, piloted by Smit Machhar and his co-pilot, lost nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "From textile engineering to cockpit hero: Indian pilot wins praise after flydubai drama",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/from-textile-engineering-to-cockpit-hero-indian-pilot-wins-praise-11104476",
        "published": "2026-10-01T03:41:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "From textile engineering to cockpit hero: Indian pilot wins praise after flydubai drama",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/from-textile-engineering-to-cockpit-hero-indian-pilot-wins-praise",
        "published": "2026-10-01T03:46:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "From textile engineering to cockpit hero: Indian pilot wins praise after flydubai drama",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/from-textile-engineering-to-cockpit-hero-indian-pilot-wins-praise-11107094",
        "published": "2026-10-01T04:07:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Plunged 14,000 feet in 29 secs: How stabbed Indian pilot averted flydubai crash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/plunged-14-000-feet-in-29-secs-how-stabbed-indian-pilot-averted",
        "published": "2026-10-01T05:40:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Indian pilot praised after Flydubai flight emergency",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/indian-pilot-praised-after-flydubai-flight-emergency",
        "published": "2026-10-01T07:22:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "From textile engineering to cockpit hero: Indian pilot wins praise after flydubai drama",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/from-textile-engineering-to-cockpit-hero-indian-pilot-wins-praise-11136067",
        "published": "2026-10-01T07:39:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Indian pilot hailed as ‘hero’ after cockpit struggle",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/indian-pilot-hailed-as-hero-after-cockpit-struggle-11158293",
        "published": "2026-10-01T09:14:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}