CNA Oct 02
'I could not let all those people die': Wounded flydubai pilot describes moment he realised plane was going down
channelnewsasia.com/asia/flydubai-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-modi-6426451
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I wasn't going to let others die, says Indian pilot who opened cockpit door during attack
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c639m98gde00o
‘Recited Hanuman Chalisa’, Indian pilot stabbed on flydubai flight tells PM Modi on video call | India News
hindustantimes.com/india-news/recited-hanuman-chalisa-indian-pilot-stabbed-on-flydubai-flight-tells-pm-modi-on-video-call-101790923387408.html
Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar fought off co-pilot who stabbed him during attempted hijacking to save passengers: ‘I was fighting for my life’
nypost.com/2026/10/02/world-news/flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-opened-cockpit-door-while-being-attacked-by-co-pilot-during-attempted-hijacking/
Key FactsFlydubai Pilot Machchhar Recounts Struggle During Suspected Hijacking Attempt
4 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cnn.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cnn.com
- During a Friday video call, Machchhar told Narendra Modi he had fought for his life and everyone else’s.
- Several passengers entered the cockpit, restrained the attacker, and stand-in pilots regained control of the aircraft.
- The badly injured captain is recovering in Abu Dhabi after the diverted aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
- The co-pilot was transferred to the UAE, where he faces a terrorism investigation; his identity, motive and weapon remain unconfirmed.
He intended to crash the plane with its passengers on board.— Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, stated this about the attacker’s intent.
Captain Smit Machchhar: The ‘jovial’ pilot and father who thwarted the Flydubai attacker
edition.cnn.com/2026/10/01/india/india-captain-smit-machchhar-flydubai-intl-hnk
Hero flydubai pilot Capt. Smit Machchhar airlifted to UAE; Indian Ambassador visits him
gulfnews.com/uae/hero-flydubai-pilot-capt-smit-machchhar-airlifted-to-uae-indian-ambassador-visits-him-1.500695120
Key FactsTrump, Modi and Netanyahu hail Smit Machchhar
6 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: independent.co.uk
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: independent.co.uk
- On Flydubai Flight FZ1073, the co-pilot attacked in Jordanian airspace; the aircraft lost 14,000 feet within 30 seconds.
- Israeli officials said Machchhar opened the cockpit door despite severe stab wounds, allowing passengers and crew members to overpower the attacker.
- According to a passenger, a British relief pilot helped make the emergency landing in Tabuk; authorities arrested the suspect immediately afterward.
- The 174 passengers later flew to Ben Gurion on a replacement aircraft; India’s embassy confirmed Machchhar was stable after emergency surgery.
"My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery," Netanyahu posted on X. "Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker."— Benjamin Netanyahu on X, praising Captain Machchhar for his bravery after the stabbing incident
Meet Captain Smit Machchhar: The Indian pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073: Discover Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian flydubai pilot who safely diverted Dubai–Tel ...
emirates247.com/uae/meet-captain-smit-machchhar-the-indian-pilot-who-safely-landed-flydubai-fz1073-after-the-cockpit-incident/6285
Key FactsFlydubai Captain Recounts Cockpit Stabbing
4 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: irishtimes.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: irishtimes.com
- Captain Smit Machchhar told Narendra Modi that the co-pilot stabbed him during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- According to Flightradar24, the aircraft lost more than 5,000 metres in 90 seconds, was stabilised and made an emergency landing in Tabuk.
- According to Machchhar, he opened the cockpit door despite the attack; passengers entered and helped save the aircraft.
- The United Arab Emirates said Thursday it was examining possible terrorist links and whether the attack had been premeditated.
I knew I was fighting for my life, but I couldn't let the other passengers die.— Capt Smit Machchhar, Flydubai captain; describing his actions during the cockpit attack in an emotional call with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.
Indian pilot hailed as hero after mid-air cockpit stabbing on FlyDubai flight: Capt. Smit Machchhar was seriously injured by his Omani co-pilot ...
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‘I couldn’t let everybody else die’: Hero pilot Smit Machchhar makes first public remarks
nine.com.au/world-news/smit-machchhar-hero-flydubai-captain-makes-first-public-remarks-20261002-p612h9.html
Flydubai Captain: “I Just Couldn’t Let the Others Die”: Two days after the alleged attack on a Flydubai plane, Indian pilot Smit Machchhar describes the final ...
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Stabbed flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar is Indian national, worked with SpiceJet earlier | India News
hindustantimes.com/india-news/stabbed-flydubai-pilot-indian-national-smit-machchhar-was-former-spicejet-employee-dubai-tel-aviv-saudi-101790775056727.html
‘Plane was going down’: Stabbed pilot says he knew he had to open cockpit door: ‘Plane was going down’: Stabbed pilot says he knew he had to open cockpit door
odt.co.nz/news/world/stabbed-pilot-says-he-knew-he-had-to-open-cockpit-door-tzsvvawu
‘My mom was scared’: What Smit Machchhar said in old podcast before flydubai cockpit incident
indianexpress.com/article/india/smit-machchhar-flydubai-pilot-stabbed-podcast-interview-10901614/
Captain Smit Machchhar shifted to Abu Dhabi, health monitored: MEA on Indian pilot's condition
india.com/news/india/smit-machchhar-shifted-to-abu-dhabi-health-monitored-mea-flydubai-indian-pilot-condition-8532043/
'Captain Smit Machhar is our hero': PM Modi praises Flydubai's Indian pilot: Captain Smit Machhar aboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 displayed bravery ...
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Flydubai cockpit attack: All we know about co-pilot accused of stabbing Smit Machchhar, trying to crash plane with 174 passengers onboard
wionews.com/world/flydubai-cockpit-attack-all-we-know-about-co-pilot-accused-of-stabbing-smit-machchhar-trying-to-crash-plane-with-174-passengers-onboard-1790825078610
What saved the Flydubai plane: Smit Machchhar, fliers’ actions, and sheer luck : The most critical actions taken by Machchhar involved fighting back against the ...
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Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot, tried to crash plane as Israel claims ‘terror attack’
punchng.com/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-pilot-tried-to-crash-plane-as-israel-claims-terror-attack/
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