15 hours 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 and The Straits 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 18 Oct 2026, 16:50 UTC. 3 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 The Straits Times World
Captain of flydubai plane describes blocking axe blows as co-pilot attacked
- New development reported by ABC Australia
Pilot describes fending off axe attack on Israel-bound flight
- Picked up by ABC Australia
Flydubai captain describes co-pilot's axe attack and saving 170 passengers
Same story, different outlets
2 headlinesEach line is that outlet's headline. The article stays on the publisher's site.