{
  "id": 11633562,
  "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-captain-with-axe-uae-official-says",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T07:49:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c61wv7lgex13o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A co-pilot aboard a Flydubai flight to Israel attacked the pilot with a crash axe, attempting to gain control of the aircraft, according to an UAE prosecutor general. The Boeing aircraft, carrying over 170 passengers, plummeted more than 17,000 feet two and a half hours into its flight. Capt Smit Machchhar, the pilot, sustained injuries when he realized the plane was descending and acted to regain control. Passengers and other crew members subsequently entered the cockpit and subdued the attacker, allowing the plane to be landed safely. The incident, which involved the use of a crash axe kept in the cockpit for emergencies, is currently under investigation by the UAE authorities to determine the circumstances and motives behind the attack. The co-pilot, an Omani national, was subdued after calling out \"Kill me, kill me!\" to the crew, suggesting he was suicidal and potentially planning to crash the plane. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacker appeared to have undergone Islamist radical indoctrination. The injured pilot, Capt Machchhar, is reportedly in stable condition after receiving medical attention at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, where he is recovering well.",
  "summary": "The flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was carrying more than 170 people when the attack took place.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "UAE prosecutor general says flydubai co-pilot 'attempted terrorist attack'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/uae-prosecutor-general-says-flydubai-co-pilot-attempted-terrorist",
        "published": "2026-10-03T06:25:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Co-pilot on flydubai flight 'attempted to carry out terrorist act', UAE's attorney general says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/co-pilot-on-flydubai-flight-attempted-to-carry-out-terrorist-act-uaes",
        "published": "2026-10-03T06:30:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Omani pilot used ‘crash axe’ in cockpit to attack Captain Smit Machchhar, attempted ‘terrorist attack’: UAE",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/omani-pilot-used-crash-axe-in-cockpit-to-attack-captain-smit",
        "published": "2026-10-03T06:47:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning 'terrorist act'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/uae-investigators-say-flydubai-co-pilot-was-planning-terrorist-act",
        "published": "2026-10-03T07:38:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-captain-with-axe-uae-official-says-11634568",
        "published": "2026-10-03T07:49:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attempted terror attack during flight, UAE says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attempted-terror-attack-during-flight-uae-says",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:04:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning 'terrorist act'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/uae-investigators-say-flydubai-co-pilot-was-planning-terrorist-act-11638638",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:20:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-captain-with-axe-uae-official-says-11642808",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:26:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-captain-with-axe-uae-official-says-11643100",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:28:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning ‘terrorist act’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/uae-investigators-say-flydubai-co-pilot-was-planning-terrorist-act-11645219",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:46:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}