{
  "id": 15463109,
  "title": "Captain of flydubai plane describes blocking axe blows as co-pilot attacked",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/captain-of-flydubai-plane-describes-blocking-axe-blows-as-co-pilot-15463109",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T18:22:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/international/article-912091"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot of a flydubai flight, recounted his harrowing experience during an attack by the co-pilot, who was attempting to crash the aircraft. Machchhar, who was severely injured during the incident, described blocking the assailant's axe blows to his head while desperately searching for a way to open the cockpit door. The flight, FZ1073, was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot launched the attack, which caused the plane to plummet 16,000 feet (4,900 meters) in just 30 seconds. The incident was so severe that Machchhar lost consciousness for a moment. The aircraft was eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia by the two remaining pilots. The attacker, an Omani national, was subsequently transferred to the UAE. The incident was allegedly inspired by the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, according to UAE public prosecutors. Machchhar's bravery in the face of danger has earned him the title of a hero, and he expressed his disbelief at the fact that he survived the ordeal.",
  "summary": "\"Immediately, my hand went to the knob that opens the door, and I screamed for my colleagues, screaming his name,\" Captain Smit Machchhar said on the attack.",
  "key_points": [
    "Captain Smit Machchhar blocked axe blows during co-pilot attack",
    "Flight FZ1073 plummeted 16,000 feet in 30 seconds",
    "Attacker, Omani national, transferred to UAE after incident"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Captain of flydubai plane describes blocking axe blows as co-pilot attacked",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/captain-of-flydubai-plane-describes-blocking-axe-blows-as-co-pilot",
        "published": "2026-10-18T16:48:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Captain of flydubai plane describes blocking axe blows as co-pilot attacked",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/captain-of-flydubai-plane-describes-blocking-axe-blows-as-co-pilot-15463719",
        "published": "2026-10-18T17:46:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "'Was not sure I'll make it out alive': Captain of flydubai flight to Tel Aviv recalls blocking axe blows from co-pilot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/was-not-sure-ill-make-it-out-alive-captain-of-flydubai-flight-to-tel",
        "published": "2026-10-18T18:30:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Bomb threat forces Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna to divert to Sofia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/bomb-threat-forces-austrian-airlines-flight-from-tel-aviv-to-vienna",
        "published": "2026-10-18T19:14:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Vienna flight from Tel Aviv diverted to Bulgaria over bomb threat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/vienna-flight-from-tel-aviv-diverted-to-bulgaria-over-bomb-threat",
        "published": "2026-10-18T19:40:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna makes emergency landing after bomb threat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/flight-from-tel-aviv-to-vienna-makes-emergency-landing-after-bomb",
        "published": "2026-10-18T19:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna makes emergency landing in Bulgaria after bomb threat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/flight-from-tel-aviv-to-vienna-makes-emergency-landing-in-bulgaria",
        "published": "2026-10-18T20:29:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}