{
  "id": 11812088,
  "title": "Netanyahu hails FlyDubai pilot as global hero",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/netanyahu-hails-flydubai-pilot-as-global-hero",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T00:57:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/hero-for-israel-india-and-entire-world-netanyahu-speaks-to-flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhar/articleshow/134668610.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Indian pilot Smit Machchhar as a global hero on Saturday for thwarting an alleged attempt to crash a flydubai flight heading to Israel. The incident occurred on flydubai flight FZ1073, which was carrying 174 passengers. Machchhar, 38, was attacked by his co-pilot with a crash axe during the flight, leading to serious injuries. After the attack, the flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a descent of over 17,000 feet from 34,000 feet.\n\nMachchhar recounted the terrifying moments in the cockpit, describing how his co-pilot wanted to pray before the attack, but then suddenly attacked him. Netanyahu expressed his admiration for Machchhar's courage and cool judgment under impossible conditions, calling him a hero of Israel, India, and the entire world. He invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Machchhar to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day. The plane was eventually brought to a stop in Saudi Arabia after part of the rudder was damaged during the extreme descent.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praises Indian pilot Smit Machchhar as a global hero.",
    "Machchhar, 38, attacked co-pilot during flydubai flight FZ1073, causing injuries.",
    "Flight made emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after 17,000 feet descent."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}