{
  "id": 12176096,
  "title": "Flydubai passenger feared possible landing in Iran, Yemen after attempted hijack",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/flydubai-passenger-feared-possible-landing-in-iran-yemen-after",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T15:22:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-910682"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Passengers on a Flydubai flight 1073 were initially convinced they were being flown to Iran or Yemen, even after the co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, was subdued. The Omani co-pilot had attacked the pilot, Smit Machchhar, with a cockpit axe and was attempting to crash the plane carrying 182 passengers. Miraculously, the pilot and a group of Israelis overpowered Hammami just seconds before the plane was to crash into the Arabian desert. It took nearly six hours for the passengers to reach Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia, where they were met with care and concern from the local community. The passengers expressed their distrust in the rescue crew and the decision to land in Saudi Arabia, as they were unsure of the hijacker's intentions. The Pintov family, who was on the flight with three children, recounted their harrowing experience, with Michelle describing the moments leading up to the landing as \"10 minutes of horror.\" The pilot, who lost a significant amount of blood during the attack, is hailed as a miracle, and despite the incident occurring close to the third anniversary of the October 7 attack, Michelle couldn't see any connection between the two events. The Pintovs stated that they still plan on flying in the future, but they have ruled out using Flydubai for their travel needs.",
  "summary": "Even with the pilot tied up, the passengers say they didn't feel fully relaxed until they landed and entered the terminal at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.",
  "key_points": [
    "Passengers feared landing in Iran or Yemen after hijack attempt.",
    "Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked pilot with axe.",
    "Plane landed safely at Tabuk airport after 6-hour ordeal."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "US vice president: No conclusive evidence linking Iran to Flydubai incident",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/us-vice-president-no-conclusive-evidence-linking-iran-to-flydubai",
        "published": "2026-10-05T16:49:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}