{
  "id": 11822206,
  "title": "‘One last fight left in me’: Capt Smit Machchhar's detailed account of flydubai ‘crash attempt’ in call with Netanyahu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/one-last-fight-left-in-me-capt-smit-machchhars-detailed-account-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T01:56:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/smit-machchhar-pilot-detailed-account-flydubai-blows-kept-coming-one-last-fight-in-me-omani-copilot-netanyahu-call-uae-israel-101791077428994.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Captain Smit Machchhar of flydubai flight FZ1073 recounted the dramatic events that unfolded inside the cockpit during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Machchhar, the co-pilot asked to pray, and while he was looking forward, he felt a heavy blow to the back of his head. The blows continued, leaving Machchhar's vision severely blurred, and he initially thought the aircraft was damaged.\n\nMachchhar soon realised that the co-pilot was attacking him with an axe, as reported by the UAE investigators, and managed to open the cockpit door despite suffering repeated blows. The aircraft was sharply descending at the time. With the door open, passengers entered and helped subdue the co-pilot. Two other flydubai pilots on board helped stabilise the plane, which made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.\n\nNetanyahu praised Machchhar's courage, saying he had \"saved so many souls.\" The Israeli Prime Minister invited Machchhar to Israel as a guest of honour and suggested that Machchhar and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi light a flame at a national ceremony for Israel's Independence Day next May. Netanyahu described Machchhar as a \"true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel and a hero of the entire world.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-10-03T20:49:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Netanyahu invites ‘true hero’ Indian flydubai captain to Israel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/netanyahu-invites-true-hero-indian-flydubai-captain-to-israel",
        "published": "2026-10-03T23:58:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}