Flydubai
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'You can't die like this': Captain Smit Machchhar recounts terrifying flydubai flight assault
World | Oct 17, 2026, 11:47 PM ISTFlydubai Captain Smit Machchhar has recalled the terrifying moments of an assault that left him fearing for his life. In a recent interview, he described being hit on the head, losing consciousness and a colleague taking over the aircraft's controls.
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Air France bans Pakistani pilots from operating flights to Israel, will more airlines follow suit?
World | Oct 14, 2026, 06:03 PM IST“Like all airlines, Air France is required to comply with the entry regulations established by the authorities of the countries it serves, both for its customers and employees,” Al Jazeera quoted Air France as saying in a statement.
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Two Maldivian pilots taken into custody in UAE over alleged plot to down flydubai aircraft
World | Oct 13, 2026, 11:54 PM ISTThe Maldivian authorities have declined to comment on the detention of the two pilots. However, no official details have so far been released by the UAE authorities regarding the allegations against the detained Maldivian nationals or the status of the investigation into their possible involvement.
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'A hero to India, Israel and the world': Israeli President honours flydubai captain Smit Machchhar
World | Oct 11, 2026, 11:51 AM ISTIsraeli President Isaac Herzog has invited Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar to Jerusalem to receive Israel's highest civilian award for heroism after he fought off a mid-air attack by his co-pilot and helped avert a potential hijacking.
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Captain Smit Machchhar to be honoured with Israel's Presidential Award for averting flydubai tragedy
World | Oct 09, 2026, 09:06 AM ISTIndian Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar will receive Israel's Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism after his actions during an alleged cockpit attack helped avert a potential disaster. Captain Machchhar is currently recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
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Israeli dentist reveals how he saved Machchhar's life on flydubai flight: 'Don't want to die here'
World | Oct 07, 2026, 07:32 AM ISTAt the time of treating, Machchhar repeatedly told the doctor," I want to live, don't want to die here." The doctor assured the flydubai Captain, saying, "Don't be afraid, you will go back to your family, we are landing soon."
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US House introduces resolution honouring Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, condemns 'act of terrorism'
World | Oct 06, 2026, 10:23 PM ISTPilot Smit Machchhar was severely injured by his Omani co-pilot aboard the flight FZ1073 that was travelling to Israel's Tel Aviv from Dubai. Despite his injuries, Machchhar foiled Hammam al-Hammami's efforts to crash the flight.
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OPINION | Why is opposition reluctant to praise Captain Smit Machchar?
India | Oct 06, 2026, 06:35 PM ISTFresh disclosures reveal terror plans by flydubai co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami to crash a plane near Tel Aviv. Captain Smit Machchar thwarted the attack and saved 180 lives, earning global praise, while political silence in India over his bravery has sparked criticism.
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Omani co-pilot wanted to crash flydubai plane in Israel to take 'revenge for Gaza, die a martyr'
World | Oct 06, 2026, 03:04 PM ISTAl-Hammami reportedly told UAE investigators that he had planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport even before joining Dubai-based airline flydubai. Israeli media also reported that al-Hammami said he was acting "in revenge for Gaza" and wanted to "die as a martyr".
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Fearing a 9/11-like attack, Israel prepared to shoot down flydubai flight with 174 onboard: Report
World | Oct 06, 2026, 09:45 AM ISTIsrael was prepared to shoot down a FlyDubai passenger plane carrying more than 150 Israelis after the captain was allegedly attacked in the cockpit. Fighter jets were scrambled as authorities activated a protocol for a possible rogue aircraft.
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Trump claims Iran behind flydubai flight incident despite Vance's 'nothing conclusive yet' remark
World | Oct 06, 2026, 12:37 PM ISTTrump made the remarks even as US Vice President JD Vance adopted a more cautious position, saying there was "nothing conclusive" so far linking Iran to the incident.
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flydubai co-pilot who planned to crash flight into Israel likely to face death penalty: Report
World | Oct 05, 2026, 11:55 PM IST29-year-old Hamam al-Hammami, who is an Omani national, wanted to hijack the flydubai flight FZ1073 and crash it at the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. He might face death penalty, a report has claimed.
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Omani co-pilot may have shut down flydubai plane's engines, tried to crash it in Saudi desert
World | Oct 05, 2026, 12:01 PM ISTHammami is an Omani national but has spent most of his time outside the country, particularly in Syria, where his mother was. He developed his extremist ideology in Syria and was even found with extremist materials while he was working with Oman Air in 2024.
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'Not afraid to die': flydubai attacker's chilling admission about crashing plane in Israel
World | Oct 04, 2026, 11:39 PM ISTA report has claimed that Hamam al-Hammami, the Omani co-pilot of the flydubai flight, has told investigators that he wanted to crash the plane in Israel and he was not afraid to die.
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Iran rejects link to flydubai incident, calls it 'worn-out tactic' by Israel to divert attention
World | Oct 04, 2026, 11:39 PM ISTDismissing reports linking it to flydubai incident, Iran has said it remains prepared to defend itself. It also called the reports a 'worn-out tactic' to divert attention from Israel's actions in Gaza.
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'Evil America will end': Al Qaeda praises flydubai incident; calls for similar attacks
World | Oct 04, 2026, 11:10 AM ISTAl Qaeda has called for copycat attacks targeting US citizens aboard aircraft while praising the alleged hijacking attempt involving a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flydubai flight.
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'Co-pilot got up to offer namaz, then attacked me': Smit Machchhar tells Netanyahu what happened
World | Oct 04, 2026, 09:11 AM ISTCaptain Smit Machchhar told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu how the flydubai FZ1073 cockpit attack unfolded, recalling the sudden assault, his struggle to open the cockpit door and how passengers helped stop the attacker.
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Who were the 2 extra pilots on flydubai flight who stepped in during cockpit attack?
World | Oct 04, 2026, 06:43 AM ISTTwo additional flydubai pilots travelling as passengers stepped in during the FZ1073 cockpit attack and helped stabilise the aircraft before it landed safely in Tabuk. Their identities remain undisclosed.
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Benjamin Netanyahu calls flydubai captain Smit Machchhar a 'true hero', invites him to Israel
World | Oct 04, 2026, 07:15 AM ISTNetanyahu praised Indian flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar for his role in preventing the attempted mid-air attack on Flight FZ1073. Netanyahu called him a hero of Israel, India and the world and invited him to light a torch at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony.
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'Religious women ruined by mixed-gender workplaces': flydubai attacker boasted misogynistic views
World | Oct 03, 2026, 06:01 PM ISTIn several deleted posts, Hamam al-Hammami, the attacker of the flydubai incident, spoke about difficulties his mother encountered while searching for a prospective wife for him. He reportedly wanted his future wife to wear a niqab, which covers the face, and give up work after marriage.