A knife attack in the cockpit of a flydubai flight carrying passengers leads to a struggle to control the aircraft, after which the pilot is hailed for preventing a worse outcome. Multiple reports say the incident occurs on a Dubai–Tel Aviv route, and passengers intervene during the emergency.
The pilot is identified across sources as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national. Business Line, The Hindu, Mint, and Times of India report that US President Donald Trump calls Machchhar a “hero,” with references to praise also coming from Benjamin Netanyahu and others. Mint and Times of India add that Trump characterizes the co-pilot/attacker as possibly a terrorist or a “whack-job,” based on what he says he was told.
The outlets also differ slightly in how they describe additional assistance during the flight. The Hindu and Mint mention that a passenger identified as a plumber helps steady the aircraft during a nosedive, while other coverage focuses more directly on Machchhar’s actions in staving off an attempted crash. All accounts emphasize that the flight’s control is maintained following the attack and passenger efforts.
