{
  "id": 11426506,
  "title": "‘Our hero’: India rallies behind flydubai Captain Smit after cockpit attack",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/our-hero-india-rallies-behind-flydubai-captain-smit-after-cockpit",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T10:56:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/our-hero-india-rallies-behind-flydubai-captain-smit-after-cockpit-attack-1.500696087"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India has rallied behind Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian flydubai pilot who was injured during a cockpit altercation on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident occurred on September 30 when Machchhar's co-pilot allegedly attacked him during a flight carrying more than 170 passengers. Despite suffering multiple injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door and prevent the situation from escalating further, allowing passengers and crew to restrain the attacker. The aircraft, a Boeing 737, had to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Passengers were accounted for, while Machchhar and the co-pilot received medical treatment. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Machchhar by video call from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi, praising his courage and wishing him a speedy recovery. The pilot was later transferred to Abu Dhabi for continued treatment. The incident is under investigation by authorities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, who are examining the circumstances surrounding the cockpit attack and the co-pilot's actions.",
  "summary": "India has rallied behind Captain Smit Machchhar, with people across the country expressing their support and admiration for the Indian flydubai pilot injured during a cockpit altercation on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight Machchhar was flying flydubai flight FZ1073 on September 30 when his co-pilot allegedly attacked him. Despite suffering multiple injuries, the captain managed to take a crucial step…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "PM Modi speaks to injured pilot Smit Machchhar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/pm-modi-speaks-to-injured-pilot-smit-machchhar",
        "published": "2026-10-02T06:19:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV - India News",
        "title": "'I Was Injured But Couldn't Let Passengers Die': Captain Smit Machchhar To PM Modi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/i-was-injured-but-couldnt-let-passengers-die-captain-smit-machchhar",
        "published": "2026-10-02T07:00:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "PM Modi speaks to flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchaar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/pm-modi-speaks-to-flydubai-pilot-captain-smit-machchaar",
        "published": "2026-10-02T07:37:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "‘Son Of Mumbai’: Milind Deora Urges Ashoka Chakra For Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/son-of-mumbai-milind-deora-urges-ashoka-chakra-for-flydubai-captain",
        "published": "2026-10-02T10:11:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - India",
        "title": "‘Told myself, this will be last push’: Smit Machchhar to PM on flydubai cockpit fight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/told-myself-this-will-be-last-push-smit-machchhar-to-pm-on-flydubai",
        "published": "2026-10-02T10:17:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Pilots’ body urges PM Modi to give flydubai captain Smit Machchhar a bravery award for saving 182 lives",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/pilots-body-urges-pm-modi-to-give-flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-a",
        "published": "2026-10-02T10:58:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "'The last push': FlyDubai captain Smit Machchhar recounts harrowing cockpit attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/the-last-push-flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-recounts-harrowing",
        "published": "2026-10-02T11:51:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}