{
  "id": 11398552,
  "title": "‘I was fighting for my life’: Pilot hailed as hero recalls FlyDubai cockpit attack",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/i-was-fighting-for-my-life-pilot-hailed-as-hero-recalls-flydubai",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T08:37:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News (US)",
    "slug": "abc-news-us",
    "url": "https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/fighting-life-indian-pilot-hailed-hero-recalls-flydubai-136942539"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian airline captain Smit Machchhar, recovering from injuries sustained during a FlyDubai cockpit attack, has described how he fought for his life as his co-pilot stabbed him. The incident occurred on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, carrying 182 passengers, which was later diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing. Machchhar, now recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, recounted to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi via a televised video call that he had sustained multiple wounds and fallen during the attack. He emphasized that he fought for his life and the lives of passengers, stating, \"I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realized that if I didn’t get up… then passengers would lose their lives.\"",
  "summary": "The pilot said he fought for his life after his co-pilot stabbed him.",
  "key_points": [
    "Indian pilot Smit Machchhar stabbed during FlyDubai attack",
    "Flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia",
    "Machchhar fought for life, emphasizing passenger safety"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Flydubai pilot 'could not let people die' as he describes fight to open cockpit door",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/flydubai-pilot-could-not-let-people-die-as-he-describes-fight-to-open",
        "published": "2026-10-02T07:14:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Flydubai pilot says he could not let passengers die",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/flydubai-pilot-says-he-could-not-let-passengers-die",
        "published": "2026-10-02T08:46:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Flydubai 'hero' pilot says praying gave him courage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/flydubai-hero-pilot-says-praying-gave-him-courage",
        "published": "2026-10-02T08:53:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Was chanting 'Hanuman Chalisa': Pilot Machchhar recounts cockpit fightback to Modi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/was-chanting-hanuman-chalisa-pilot-machchhar-recounts-cockpit",
        "published": "2026-10-02T10:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "‘I couldn’t let everybody else die,’ says hero Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/i-couldnt-let-everybody-else-die-says-hero-flydubai-pilot-smit",
        "published": "2026-10-02T10:30:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "UAE official praises Flydubai pilot for response to terror threat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/uae-official-praises-flydubai-pilot-for-response-to-terror-threat",
        "published": "2026-10-02T11:22:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "FlyDubai pilot describes opening cockpit door during attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/flydubai-pilot-describes-opening-cockpit-door-during-attack",
        "published": "2026-10-02T11:23:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "'No mental capacity to react': Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar's wife recalls shock",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/no-mental-capacity-to-react-flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhars-wife",
        "published": "2026-10-02T11:32:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "FlyDubai pilot on cockpit attack: 'I was fighting for my life'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/flydubai-pilot-on-cockpit-attack-i-was-fighting-for-my-life",
        "published": "2026-10-02T12:54:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBC News",
        "title": "'Prepared ourselves for the worst': FlyDubai passenger recounts moments during cockpit attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/prepared-ourselves-for-the-worst-flydubai-passenger-recounts-moments",
        "published": "2026-10-02T12:57:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}