{
  "id": 11605972,
  "title": "'I was fighting for my life': Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls FlyDubai cockpit attack",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/i-was-fighting-for-my-life-indian-pilot-hailed-as-hero-recalls",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T05:00:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20261003/p2g/00m/0in/013000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian airline captain Smit Machchhar recounted his harrowing experience on a FlyDubai flight that was nearly hijacked on Wednesday. In the cockpit, Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot as the plane began a rapid descent. Recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, Machchhar described his fight to survive and save his passengers to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The flight, carrying 182 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Passengers managed to restrain the attacker, who has been arrested in Saudi Arabia. Machchhar, who has over 9,750 flying hours, said he could sense the plane's steep descent despite his injuries. He attributed his survival to his faith in Lord Hanuman and his years of flying experience. World leaders hailed Machchhar as a hero for his quick thinking and bravery in averting a disaster.",
  "summary": "NEW DELHI (AP) -- The Indian airline captain who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight described Friday how he fought for his l",
  "key_points": [
    "Indian pilot Smit Machchhar stabbed by co-pilot during hijack attempt",
    "Flight forced to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia with 182 passengers",
    "Machchhar survives, attributes survival to faith and experience"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The pilot's heroic actions, driven by years of experience and faith, have earned him praise from world leaders, contrasting sharply with the co-pilot's violent and treacherous behaviour.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Asia Times",
        "title": "Flydubai attack feeds Netanyahu’s ‘protector’ line as polls near",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-attack-feeds-netanyahus-protector-line-as-polls-near",
        "published": "2026-10-03T06:46:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}