{
  "id": 11684381,
  "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-11684381",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T12:23:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/world/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Flydubai flight en route to Israel saw chaos when its co-pilot attacked the pilot with a crash axe, the UAE prosecutor general has revealed. The Airbus A320, carrying over 170 passengers, plummeted 17,000 feet during the incident, which occurred two and a half hours into its journey. Passengers managed to overpower the attacker, taking control of the plane and leading it to land safely in Saudi Arabia with the assistance of two reserve pilots. An Omani national was identified as the attacker, though this has not been officially confirmed. The weapon used in the attack remains a key focus of investigators, as it is typically kept in the cockpit for emergencies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacker displayed suicidal tendencies and had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination. The UAE is now investigating if the incident is linked to any terrorist activity. The co-pilot who initiated the attack, Smit Machchhar, is reported to be in stable condition after being stabbed. The Indian pilot, who survived the ordeal, is also recovering well.",
  "summary": "The co-pilot who attempted to take control of a Flydubai plane travelling to Israel attacked the pilot with a crash axe, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general has said. The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying more than 170 people plunged 17,000ft (5,200m) two and a half hours into its journey, before passengers managed […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "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 World",
        "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",
        "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "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-11650370",
        "published": "2026-10-03T09:32:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "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-11702401",
        "published": "2026-10-03T14:30:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}