Oct 02

‘I couldn’t let everybody else die,’ says hero Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar

0:50

Photo: cnn.com · view article

Flydubai Pilot Machchhar Recounts Struggle During Suspected Hijacking Attempt

After the FZ 1073 incident, the captain is recovering in Abu Dhabi; the co-pilot was transferred to the UAE.

Key Facts4 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
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.

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Story Details

Last Updated
Total Articles	33

Main Topics

Flydubai

#flydubai

government-owned low-cost airline

Narendra Modi

#narendra-modi

Prime Minister of India since 2014

Indian (nationality)

#indian-nationality

News on this topic

linkinbio.jpost.com Oct 02

Modi praises flydubai captain who fought back Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks by video call with flydubai captain Smit Machchhar in Abu Dhabi ... Show more

0:46

370

Reuters

Credibility A

Oct 02

Indian pilot tells PM Modi he opened flydubai cockpit door during attack

1:55

CNN.com

C+

Oct 02

‘I couldn’t let everybody else die,’ says hero Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar

0:50

865

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nypost.com

Credibility D

Oct 02

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/

368

542

Irish Independent

C+

Oct 02

‘I was fighting for my life’: Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls FlyDubai cockpit attack

independent.ie/world-news/i-was-fighting-for-my-life-indian-pilot-hailed-as-hero-recalls-flydubai-cockpit-attack/a/162478376.html

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The Independent

C+

Oct 02

Israel flight hijacking latest: New footage emerges from inside plane after co-pilot ‘attacked captain with axe’

independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-flight-live-updates-dubai-pilot-stabbing-b3060313.html

448

The Independent

C+

Oct 02

Indian pilot hero tells of FlyDubai cockpit horror attack: 'I had so many wounds'

independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/smit-machchhar-pilot-israel-flight-b3060258.html

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WTVF

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Oct 02

‘I couldn’t let everybody else die’: Flydubai pilot speaks out for first time: Smit Machchhar, the hero Flydubai captain who fought off a savage attack by his ...

newschannel5.com/world/i-couldnt-let-everybody-else-die-flydubai-pilot-speaks-out-for-first-time

ABC News

B+

Oct 02

'The last push, Smit': FlyDubai captain Smit Machchhar recounts harrowing cockpit attack

abcnews.com/International/push-smit-flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-recounts-harrowing/story

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The Hindu

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Oct 02

PM Modi lauds Captain Smit Machchhar; pilot says used every bit of energy to save plane

thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-speaks-to-flydubai-pilot-captain-smit-machchaar/article71536177.ece

Express and Star

Oct 02

‘I was fighting for my life’: Hero pilot recalls FlyDubai cockpit attack: Captain Smit Machchhar was seriously injured in Wednesday’s attack.

expressandstar.com/world-news/i-was-fighting-for-my-life-hero-pilot-recalls-flydubai-cockpit-attack-9252792

The Indian Express

Oct 02

‘Told myself, this will be last push’: Smit Machchhar to PM on flydubai cockpit fight

indianexpress.com/article/india/captain-smit-machchhar-flydubai-pm-narendra-modi-video-call-10903873/

New York Daily News

B−

Oct 02

‘I was fighting for my life’: Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls FlyDubai cockpit attack

nydailynews.com/2026/10/02/indian-pilot-recalls-flydubai-cockpit-attack/

Arab News

B−

Oct 01

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauds FlyDubai “hero” pilot Smit Machchhar: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauds FlyDubai “hero” pilot Smit Machchhar

arabnews.com/middle-east/indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-lauds-flydubai-hero-pilot-smit-machchhar-3003978

FRANCE 24

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Oct 02

Flydubai hero pilot tells Modi 'I could not let all those people die': Smit Machchhar, the Indian captain who was attacked by his co-pilot onboard the Flydubai ...

france24.com/en/middle-east/20261002-flydubai-hero-pilot-tells-modi-i-could-not-let-all-those-people-die

The Guardian

B−

Oct 02

‘I was fighting for my life’: Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls flydubai cockpit attack

theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/02/indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-recalls-flydubai-cockpit-attack

345

The Indian Express

Oct 02

‘I was not going to let others die’: Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar’s desperate push to open cockpit door

indianexpress.com/article/world/flydubai-fz1073-cockpit-attack-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-pm-modi-call-10903839/

op-online.de

Oct 02

Co-pilot attacked him with a knife - | but this Flydubai captain didn't give up and saved 174 lives

op-online.de/welt/ich-habe-um-mein-leben-gekaempft-heldenhafter-pilot-schildert-angriff-auf-entfuehrtes-israel-flugzeug-flydubai-zr-94522098.html

The National

C−

Oct 02

'I couldn't let others die': Hero flydubai pilot tells of cockpit attack: Capt Smit Machchhar tells Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of battling intense pain ...

thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/10/02/i-couldnt-let-others-die-hero-flydubai-pilot-tells-of-cockpit-attack/

fnp.de

Oct 02

Co-pilot attacked him with a knife - | but this Flydubai captain didn't give up and saved 174 lives

fnp.de/welt/ich-habe-um-mein-leben-gekaempft-heldenhafter-pilot-schildert-angriff-auf-entfuehrtes-israel-flugzeug-flydubai-zr-94522098.html

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Khaleej Times

Credibility C−

Oct 03

Netanyahu invites 'true hero' Indian flydubai captain to Israel: Netanyahu said he wanted Captain Smit Machchhar and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light ...

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BBC News

Oct 02

I wasn't going to let others die, says Indian pilot who opened cockpit door during attack

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Business Insider

B−

Oct 02

Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar describes how he helped save Flight 1073: Smit Machchhar spoke to India's prime minister in a video call from the hospital after ...

businessinsider.com/flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-describes-how-helped-save-flight-1073-2026-10

Key FactsFlydubai Captain Recounts Cockpit Stabbing

4 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
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.

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