{
  "id": 11771550,
  "title": "Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar tells Netanyahu what happened inside cockpit: ‘Big blow to my head’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-tells-netanyahu-what-happened-inside",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T20:49:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/world/flydubai-flight-fz1073-cockpit-attack-pilot-smit-machchhar-benjamin-netanyahu-call-10905623/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar provided a detailed account of the events inside the cockpit during the attack on Flydubai flight FZ1073. The incident occurred shortly after his co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, asked to pray. Machchhar said that after a few minutes, he felt a blow to the back of his head and the blows continued one after the other. Initially, he thought the aircraft had suffered catastrophic damage, but soon realized that it was his co-pilot who was attacking him. Despite the severe impact on his vision, Machchhar tried to stop the co-pilot but failed. He managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker. The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "‘Proud he is part of our nation's story’: Dubai Crown Prince praises Indian flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar's courage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/proud-he-is-part-of-our-nations-story-dubai-crown-prince-praises",
        "published": "2026-10-03T15:37:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "‘Utmost respect, awe’: US official praises Smit Machcchar, others who thwarted flydubai ‘crash bid’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/utmost-respect-awe-us-official-praises-smit-machcchar-others-who",
        "published": "2026-10-03T16:59:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Netanyahu's surprising invitation to the Indian pilot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/netanyahus-surprising-invitation-to-the-indian-pilot",
        "published": "2026-10-03T18:02:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Netanyahu invites Indian pilot who saved flydubai flight to Israel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/netanyahu-invites-indian-pilot-who-saved-flydubai-flight-to-israel",
        "published": "2026-10-03T19:16:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}