Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe, UAE official says
A Flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, causing the aircraft to plunge over 17,000 feet. Passengers and crew members successfully subdued the attacker, allowing the plane to land safely. The injured captain, Smit Machchhar, was hospitalized and is reported to be in stable condition while authorities investigate the incident.
- ▪The co-pilot, an Omani national, attacked the captain with a crash axe in an attempt to take control of the aircraft.
- ▪The flight, which carried more than 170 people, dropped over 17,000 feet before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker.
- ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacker appeared suicidal and had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination.
- ▪Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed during the attack and was airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where he is recovering in stable condition.
- ▪The UAE prosecutor general confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances and potential terrorist links of the incident.
2 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 1 hour. All of the coverage we found sits in one bucket: lean left. That one-sidedness is itself worth noticing.
- ▪ Flydubai co-pilot used crash axe to attack captain, says UAE — The Guardian — World
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| Publication time | Sat, 03 Oct 2026 07:40:51 GMT |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe, UAE official saysImage source, Embassy of India in IsraelImage caption, The Indian government has praised Smit Machchhar for his "immense courage" during the attackByElla KiplingPublished7 minutes agoThe co-pilot of the Flydubai plane travelling to Israel attacked the pilot with a crash axe in an attempt to take control of the aircraft, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general has said.The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying more than 170 people plunged more than 17,000ft (5,200m) two and a half hours into its journey.Passengers aboard the aircraft were able to overpower the attacker, while on-duty crew travelling on the flight entered the cockpit and landed the plan safely.Capt Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed in the attack, was…
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