{
  "id": 11413477,
  "title": "Dubai-Tel Aviv flight: Indian pilot reveals how he saved passengers after attack",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/dubai-tel-aviv-flight-indian-pilot-reveals-how-he-saved-passengers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T10:22:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/02/dubai-tel-aviv-flight-indian-pilot-reveals-how-he-saved-passengers-after-attack/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Indian pilot Smit Machchhar recounted his experience of saving passengers during a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight after being allegedly attacked by his co-pilot. Machchhar, speaking to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed, emphasized his primary concern was protecting the passengers despite sustaining serious injuries. The Boeing 737, operated by flydubai, was carrying 174 passengers when the confrontation occurred on Wednesday. Machchhar, with over 17 years of experience, realized the aircraft was losing altitude and had to make one final effort to prevent a catastrophe. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the door and allow passengers to enter, preventing the aircraft from crashing. The exact circumstances of the confrontation are under investigation, and the co-pilot is alleged to have attacked Machchhar. The flight was eventually diverted and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Both Indian and Israeli leaders praised Machchhar's actions, crediting him and the passengers for averting a potential disaster.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "PM Modi speaks to Indian pilot Smit Machchhar who was stabbed on flydubai plane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/pm-modi-speaks-to-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-who-was-stabbed-on",
        "published": "2026-10-02T05:54:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "I opened cockpit door of plane while being attacked, Indian pilot tells Modi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/i-opened-cockpit-door-of-plane-while-being-attacked-indian-pilot",
        "published": "2026-10-02T07:20:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Indian flydubai pilot who opened cockpit door shares story with Prime Minister Narendra Modi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/indian-flydubai-pilot-who-opened-cockpit-door-shares-story-with-prime",
        "published": "2026-10-02T07:36:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Indian pilot tells PM Modi he opened flydubai cockpit door during attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/indian-pilot-tells-pm-modi-he-opened-flydubai-cockpit-door-during",
        "published": "2026-10-02T08:46:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "FlyDubai pilot tells his survival story in emotional call with Indian leader",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/flydubai-pilot-tells-his-survival-story-in-emotional-call-with-indian",
        "published": "2026-10-02T10:57:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The New York Times",
        "title": "Indian Pilot Stabbed on FlyDubai Flight Recalls Sudden Attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/indian-pilot-stabbed-on-flydubai-flight-recalls-sudden-attack",
        "published": "2026-10-02T11:09:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}