{
  "id": 11212471,
  "title": "‘Matter of great pride’: Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar’s Neighbours, Friends Laud Him For Averting Aviation Disaster | VIDEO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/matter-of-great-pride-flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhars-neighbours",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T14:19:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/matter-of-great-pride-flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhars-neighbours-friends-laud-him-for-averting-aviation-disaster-video-mumbai-news"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a remarkable display of courage, Captain Smit Machchhar averted a potential aviation disaster on a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv. Machchhar, who was targeted by his co-pilot, a fellow national, bravely opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene and subdue the attacker. Despite sustaining severe injuries, Machchhar managed to safely divert the aircraft to Saudi Arabia, saving the lives of nearly 180 people on board. Neighbors and friends of the pilot praised his actions, expressing pride and concern for his well-being. Machchhar's friend Akshay Doshi described his calmness and quick thinking, stating that he exhibited all the qualities required for a pilot. The Indian government also lauded Machchhar's presence of mind and determination under dangerous circumstances.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: Friends and neighbours of Captain Smit Machchhar, who averted a major aviation disaster despite being attacked by his co-pilot on a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, on Thursday expressed pride about his heroism, but added that they were concerned for his well-being. At the Swastik Heights Cooperative Housing Society in Tilak Nagar, Machchhar’s friend Akshay Doshi said that the pilot’s…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Standard Kenya",
        "title": "How Kenyan flight attendants tended to stabbed Flydubai pilot mid-flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/how-kenyan-flight-attendants-tended-to-stabbed-flydubai-pilot-mid",
        "published": "2026-10-01T11:05:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "India’s UAE envoy visits family of Flydubai pilot injured in cockpit attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/indias-uae-envoy-visits-family-of-flydubai-pilot-injured-in-cockpit",
        "published": "2026-10-01T12:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "FlyDubai passenger recounts cockpit chaos: \"I hugged my two boys\"",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/flydubai-passenger-recounts-cockpit-chaos-i-hugged-my-two-boys",
        "published": "2026-10-01T13:14:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Indian airline captain hailed as hero after cockpit attack on FlyDubai flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/indian-airline-captain-hailed-as-hero-after-cockpit-attack-on",
        "published": "2026-10-01T13:32:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Hero flydubai pilot Capt. Smit Machchhar airlifted to UAE; Indian Ambassador visits him",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/hero-flydubai-pilot-capt-smit-machchhar-airlifted-to-uae-indian",
        "published": "2026-10-01T14:00:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Indian envoy to UAE meets flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar, says he is recovering well",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/indian-envoy-to-uae-meets-flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhar-says-he-is",
        "published": "2026-10-01T15:23:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}