{
  "id": 15339383,
  "title": "Flydubai captain recalls co-pilot’s axe attack in alleged bid to crash plane and kill passengers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/flydubai-captain-recalls-co-pilots-axe-attack-in-alleged-bid-to-crash",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T03:10:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/10/18/flydubai-captain-recalls-co-pilots-axe-attack-in-alleged-bid-to-crash-plane-and-kill-passengers/239550"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The captain of a Flydubai flight, Smit Machchhar, recounted the harrowing experience of being attacked by his co-pilot with an axe during an incident aimed at crashing the plane and killing passengers. In his first interview with Sky News Arabia, Machchhar, who sustained injuries to his head and hand, spoke about the trauma he endured. Initially thinking a part of the airplane's ceiling had fallen, he was later struck multiple times by the axe, causing him significant pain. Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door to alert another pilot on board, but it closed again shortly afterward. As the engine sounds weakened and the aircraft began to dive, Machchhar recounted the vision being restricted to a few inches. The prosecutor found that the 29-year-old Omani co-pilot had planned the attack to carry out a suicide mission at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, inspired by the 9/11 attacks in New York. The other pilot, who noticed the unusual movement of the cockpit door, entered the flight deck and, with help from a crew member and passengers, subdued the co-pilot and regained control of the aircraft, leading to an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Machchhar praised his colleague's actions, stating that they were \"commendable\" and he would remember them until his death.",
  "summary": "DUBAI, Oct 17 —The captain of a flydubai flight whose co-pilot attacked him with an axe in an alleged bid to bring down...",
  "key_points": [
    "Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar recounts axe attack by co-pilot during flight",
    "Co-pilot planned suicide mission inspired by 9/11 attacks, aiming to crash plane",
    "Passengers and crew subdued attacker, enabling emergency landing in Saudi Arabia"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The harrowing account of the cockpit struggle highlights the extreme physical risks flight crews face when confronted with sudden, violent internal threats during a flight.",
  "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."
}