{
  "id": 11241450,
  "title": "Who is the ‘hero’ Indian pilot who was stabbed on Israel-bound flight?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/who-is-the-hero-indian-pilot-who-was-stabbed-on-israel-bound-flight-11241450",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T16:56:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/who-is-the-hero-indian-pilot-who-was-stabbed-on-israel-bound-flight/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian pilot Capt Smit Machchhar, the \"hero\" who was stabbed during a flight bound for Tel Aviv, has been identified. The incident occurred on a Flydubai flight, leading to a diversion to Tabuk, a city in north-western Saudi Arabia. Machchhar was airlifted to a hospital in Tabuk, where he is recovering well, according to the Indian embassy in the UAE. The Indian national, who grew up in Mumbai, joined Indian airline SpiceJet in 2008 and later moved to Dubai to join Flydubai in 2022. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Machchhar as a \"true hero\" who saved the lives of 174 people and prevented a catastrophic mid-air disaster. Israeli officials expressed their pride and relief over Machchhar's actions, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the heroism demonstrated by the pilot.",
  "summary": "The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers in connection with the abduction of Ayuba Sumiya Mawudu, alias Haruna, at Dobini Bunban near Yendi in the Northern Region.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "What happened on FlyDubai flight FZ1073?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/what-happened-on-flydubai-flight-fz1073",
        "published": "2026-10-01T04:54:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Online storm: Outrageous coverage of Flydubai flight drama",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/online-storm-outrageous-coverage-of-flydubai-flight-drama",
        "published": "2026-10-01T05:42:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Who is the 'hero' Indian pilot who was stabbed on Israel-bound flight?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/who-is-the-hero-indian-pilot-who-was-stabbed-on-israel-bound-flight",
        "published": "2026-10-01T06:01:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "\"Lucky\": What flydubai Indian Pilot Once Said About Having Doctors On Flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/lucky-what-flydubai-indian-pilot-once-said-about-having-doctors-on",
        "published": "2026-10-01T06:22:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arabian Post",
        "title": "Flydubai halts Israel flights during FZ1073 investigation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/flydubai-halts-israel-flights-during-fz1073-investigation",
        "published": "2026-10-01T06:30:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Israel PM hails Indian pilot of rerouted Flydubai flight for averting disaster",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/israel-pm-hails-indian-pilot-of-rerouted-flydubai-flight-for-averting",
        "published": "2026-10-01T06:50:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Attacker's identity and motive unknown after flydubai flight to Israel escapes disaster after pilot stabbed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/attackers-identity-and-motive-unknown-after-flydubai-flight-to-israel",
        "published": "2026-10-01T07:35:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Pawan Kalyan, Jagan hail Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for saving 174 lives on flydubai flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/pawan-kalyan-jagan-hail-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-saving-174",
        "published": "2026-10-01T07:40:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia reluctant to fully cooperate with Israel during attempted flydubai hijacking",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/saudi-arabia-reluctant-to-fully-cooperate-with-israel-during",
        "published": "2026-10-01T08:54:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Was Indian pilot hit with axe during flydubai ‘crash attempt’? Here's what Israel PM Netanyahu said",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/was-indian-pilot-hit-with-axe-during-flydubai-crash-attempt-heres",
        "published": "2026-10-01T09:20:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Squawk 7500, stabbed Indian pilot, nosedive over Saudi Arabia: Inside flydubai FZ1073",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/squawk-7500-stabbed-indian-pilot-nosedive-over-saudi-arabia-inside",
        "published": "2026-10-01T10:48:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}