{
  "id": 11217507,
  "title": "Mumbai pilot Smit Machchhar hailed as global hero",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/mumbai-pilot-smit-machchhar-hailed-as-global-hero",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T14:31:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/world-is-proud-of-you-smit-machchhar-pilot-from-mumbais-ghatkopar-becomes-global-hero/articleshow/134621991.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On a typical Wednesday in March 2026, a flydubai pilot named Smit Machchhar became an unlikely global hero. Unbeknownst to the world until that day, Machchhar bravely intervened in a cockpit confrontation on his flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, averting a potential disaster. The plane, carrying 174 passengers, was descending rapidly, with Machchhar fighting off his co-pilot, who was allegedly attempting to crash the aircraft.\n\nNews of Machchhar's heroic act quickly spread, and he was hailed as a hero by leaders and citizens alike. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and US President Donald Trump all praised Machchhar's selfless act and courageous actions. Social media was flooded with tributes, with people sharing videos of the violent cockpit confrontation and the bloodied Machchhar. Neighbors and friends remembered him as a calm, composed person and a caring father of two children. His LinkedIn profile revealed that Machchhar had been serving as a captain on Flydubai's Boeing 737 fleet since June 2022, with over 9,750 flying hours and extensive experience in mentoring and assessing pilots. Despite his low profile, Machchhar's actions on that fateful day made him a true hero in the skies.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}