{ "id": 11619964, "title": "Flydubai co-pilot 'attacked pilot with axe in suspected terrorist attack', UAE says", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-pilot-with-axe-in-suspected-terrorist", "topic": "world", "section": "World", "published": "2026-10-03T06:07:00.000Z", "source": { "name": "Sky News", "slug": "sky-news", "url": "https://news.sky.com/story/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-pilot-with-axe-in-suspected-terrorist-attack-uae-says-13594565" }, "original_language": "en", "account": null, "summary": "A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing after the co-pilot attacked the captain. The co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, used an axe to stab the captain, according to Sky News. The captain, an Indian national named Smit Machchhar, was seriously injured but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attacker.\n\nThe United Arab Emirates prosecutor general described the incident as a terrorist attack. According to The Korea Times, al-Hammami had been barred from flying in Oman over concerns he had adopted extremist views. He had also been removed from a job at Oman’s national airline, and had spent time in Syria, raising concerns he may have been radicalized.\n\nThe flight, carrying 182 people, narrowly avoided catastrophe. Captain Machchhar, who is from Mumbai, has been hailed as a hero for his role in averting a disaster. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspect had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination” and had attempted to crash the plane, as reported by Malay Mail.", "key_points": [], "editors_take": null, "illustration": null, "coverage": { "outlets": 15, "also_reported_by": [ { "outlet": "NDTV", "title": "flydubai Co-Pilot Was Banned By Oman From Flying Over Extremist Views: Report", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-was-banned-by-oman-from-flying-over-extremist-views", "published": "2026-10-03T01:51:16.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News", "title": "Flying ban in Oman, spent time in Syria, held ‘radical views’: What we know about flydubai co-pilot", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flying-ban-in-oman-spent-time-in-syria-held-radical-views-what-we", "published": "2026-10-03T02:22:51.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Malay Mail", "title": "How did he get back in the cockpit? Flydubai co-pilot accused of mid-air attack was previously banned in Oman", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/how-did-he-get-back-in-the-cockpit-flydubai-co-pilot-accused-of-mid", "published": "2026-10-03T04:17:39.000Z" }, { "outlet": "KahawaTungu", "title": "Terrorist images found on Flydubai suspect’s social media", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/terrorist-images-found-on-flydubai-suspects-social-media", "published": "2026-10-03T04:51:16.000Z" }, { "outlet": "South China Morning Post", "title": "Flydubai plane attack: co-pilot previously barred from flying by Oman over extremist views", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-plane-attack-co-pilot-previously-barred-from-flying-by-oman", "published": "2026-10-03T04:53:37.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Al Jazeera", "title": "Flydubai co-pilot stabbed captain with crash axe in ‘terrorist’ attack: UAE", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-stabbed-captain-with-crash-axe-in-terrorist-attack", "published": "2026-10-03T06:16:47.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press", "title": "Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack is identified, and other Mideast developments", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/co-pilot-in-flydubai-attack-is-identified-and-other-mideast", "published": "2026-10-03T06:19:54.000Z" }, { "outlet": "RTE News", "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe, says UAE", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-pilot-with-axe-says-uae", "published": "2026-10-03T06:34:01.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Gulf News", "title": "UAE says flydubai co-pilot attempted ‘terrorist act’ on Israel-bound flight", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/uae-says-flydubai-co-pilot-attempted-terrorist-act-on-israel-bound", "published": "2026-10-03T06:40:15.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Investing.com", "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe, attempted ’terrorist’ attack, UAE says", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-pilot-with-axe-attempted-terrorist-attack-11628441", "published": "2026-10-03T06:54:31.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Jerusalem Post", "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe, attempted 'terrorist' attack, UAE says", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-pilot-with-axe-attempted-terrorist-attack", "published": "2026-10-03T06:58:46.000Z" }, { "outlet": "CNBC World", "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe, attempted 'terrorist' attack, UAE says", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-pilot-with-axe-attempted-terrorist-attack-11634986", "published": "2026-10-03T07:38:59.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Al-Monitor", "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe, attempted 'terrorist' attack, UAE says", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-pilot-with-axe-attempted-terrorist-attack-11637245", "published": "2026-10-03T07:46:28.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Channel News Asia", "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe, attempted 'terrorist attack', UAE says", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-pilot-with-axe-attempted-terrorist-attack-11641450", "published": "2026-10-03T08:12:00.000Z" } ] }, "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." }