{
  "id": 11854442,
  "title": "‘One last fight left in me’: Smit Machchhar details cockpit attack, fight to open door",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/one-last-fight-left-in-me-smit-machchhar-details-cockpit-attack-fight",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T05:35:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express - India",
    "slug": "the-indian-express-india",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/flydubai-cockpit-attack-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-benjamin-netanyahu-call-10905941/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who endured a violent assault by his Omani co-pilot during a Flydubai flight on September 30, detailed the harrowing incident during a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, Machchhar recounted how he fought through blurred vision and disorientation to unlock the cockpit door from within, enabling crew members to intervene. The Omani pilot initially wanted to pray, but the captain started hitting him from behind. Machchhar tried to stop the attacker, but his vision was severely blurred, and he felt the aircraft sharply dropping. Despite the disorientation, he managed to open the door, allowing the crew to regain control and land the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The UAE, Israel, and India are investigating the incident, with Netanyahu describing the co-pilot as a \"hero.\"",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Indian pilot Smit Machchhar details cockpit attack during Flydubai flight on September 30",
    "Machchhar fought through blurred vision to unlock cockpit door and allow crew intervention",
    "UAE, Israel, and India investigating incident; Omani co-pilot described as hero by Netanyahu"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The pilot's ability to regain composure and unlock the cockpit door despite being severely disoriented likely prevented a worse outcome, highlighting his critical role in saving the plane and its passengers.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "‘One last fight left in me’: Smit Machchhar details cockpit attack, fight to open door",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/one-last-fight-left-in-me-smit-machchhar-details-cockpit-attack-fight-11858661",
        "published": "2026-10-04T05:35:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Ajay Devgn calls flydubai captain Smit Machchhar 'a hero in every sense'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/ajay-devgn-calls-flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-a-hero-in-every-sense",
        "published": "2026-10-04T06:50:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}