7 days ago · Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Flydubai captain describes co-pilot's axe attack and saving 170 passengers
What's happening
SignalsMonitor is following this as a conflict story. ABC Australia, Dawn, The Guardian UK, NBC News Top Stories, The Straits Times World, and New York Times World are the outlets attached to this story. The reports are tied to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The first report grouped here was at 12 Oct 2026, 06:57 UTC. 7 material updates are listed in the timeline. The headline in use is “Flydubai captain describes co-pilot's axe attack and saving 170 passengers”. This note is SignalsMonitor's own briefing, not the publisher's article.
What we know
During the attack in the cockpit, Smit Machchhar says he calmed himself and said: "You can't die like this."
Story timeline
Reports grouped into this story, earliest first. Exact repeats from the same outlet are collapsed.
- First reported by New York Times World
Investigation into FlyDubai Attacker Puts Spotlight on a Melbourne Mosque
- New development reported by The Straits Times World
‘You can’t die like this’: flydubai pilot recalls attack in first interview
- New development reported by NBC News Top Stories
Hero FlyDubai pilot speaks for first time on in-flight attack
- New development reported by The Guardian UK
Flydubai captain describes blocking axe blows as co-pilot attacked him
- Picked up by ABC Australia
Flydubai captain describes co-pilot's axe attack and saving 170 passengers
Same story, different outlets
6 headlinesEach line is that outlet's headline. The article stays on the publisher's site.
- ABCFlydubai captain describes co-pilot's axe attack and saving 170 passengers
- Dawn'Was not sure I'll make it out alive': Captain of flydubai flight to Tel Aviv recalls blocking axe blows from co-pilot
- The GuardianFlydubai captain describes blocking axe blows as co-pilot attacked him
- NBC News Top StoriesHero FlyDubai pilot speaks for first time on in-flight attack
- The Straits Times‘You can’t die like this’: flydubai pilot recalls attack in first interview
- The New York TimesInvestigation into FlyDubai Attacker Puts Spotlight on a Melbourne Mosque