Wounded Flydubai captain recounts opening cockpit during midair attack
publishers 74articles 221first reported 30 Sep, 19:57 UTCdeveloping since 1 Oct · 17 editionstop 25 #15
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar said he opened the cockpit door despite being seriously wounded by his co-pilot, allowing others aboard to restrain the attacker and bring the aircraft under control.
Speaking Friday by video from a hospital in Abu Dhabi with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar said he had collapsed from his injuries and felt the aircraft descending before making a final effort to reach the door. Passengers and crew then overpowered the co-pilot, while other Flydubai pilots travelling aboard the aircraft took control and landed it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was carrying about 180 passengers and briefly descended roughly 17,000 feet, according to reports. Machchhar, who said he has 17 years of aviation experience, including 11 as a captain, credited that experience with helping him understand the danger. Modi praised his actions.
The suspected attacker, identified as an Omani national, was arrested after the landing. His motive remains unclear. A UAE presidential adviser called the incident a “terrorist act,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said authorities were examining whether anyone had directed the co-pilot. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of further strikes if it was found to be involved.
Flydubai said it would conduct a full investigation and suspended flights to Tel Aviv until at least October 15.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 32 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 74
- Source articles
- 221
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 32 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: The story needs small corrections to avoid misstating source attribution and over-specifying disputed cockpit-crew details. - "Passengers and crew then overpowered the co-pilot, while two other Flydubai pilots travelling aboard the aircraft took control and landed it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.": Al Jazeera says a second pair of Flydubai pilots took control, but Deutsche Welle says a deadheading pilot took control; to avoid adding an unsupported exact number amid source variation, the sentence should be corrected to a more general sourced formulation. - "The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was carrying about 180 people and briefly descended roughly 17,000 feet, according to Al Jazeera.": Al Jazeera reports 174 people aboard; Deutsche Welle reports some 180 passengers, so attributing 'about 180 people' to Al Jazeera is inaccurate. - "The suspected attacker, identified as an Omani national, was arrested after the landing. His motive remains under investigation.": Deutsche Welle says the suspect was arrested upon landing in Saudi Arabia and later says he is currently held in the UAE; saying only 'after the landing' is not necessarily misleading, but the second sentence omits the sourced detail that motive remains unclear rather than formally under investigation.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Wounded Flydubai captain recounts opening cockpit during midair attack
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar said he opened the cockpit door despite being seriously wounded by his co-pilot, allowing others aboard to restrain the attacker and bring the aircraft under control.
Speaking Friday by video from a hospital in Abu Dhabi with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar said he had collapsed from his injuries and felt the aircraft descending before making a final effort to reach the door. Passengers and crew then overpowered the co-pilot, while two other Flydubai pilots travelling aboard the aircraft took control and landed it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was carrying about 180 peoplepassengers and briefly descended roughly 17,000 feet, according to Al Jazeera.reports. Machchhar, who said he has 17 years of aviation experience, including 11 as a captain, credited that experience with helping him understand the danger. Modi praised his actions.
The suspected attacker, identified as an Omani national, was arrested after the landing. His motive remains under investigation.unclear. A UAE presidential adviser called the incident a “terrorist act,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said authorities were examining whether anyone had directed the co-pilot. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of further strikes if it was found to be involved.
Flydubai said it would conduct a full investigation and suspended flights to Tel Aviv until at least October 15.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →