Rooma News ; Stabbed captain saves Flydubai flight after co-pilot attack

 Rooma News

Friday, 2 October 2026

Islamabad

By Rooma Mehmood

World

Stabbed captain saves Flydubai flight after co-pilot attack

AFlydubai Boeing 737 flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the co-pilot, reportedly Omani, attacked and stabbed the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, in an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft. The plane lost significant altitude rapidly.

The injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, and passengers and crew overpowered the co-pilot. Extra pilots on board helped land the plane safely, and all 170-plus people were unharmed.

Saudi authorities later transferred both pilots to the UAE. Investigators are examining possible motives, and some officials have raised questions about radicalisation. Captain Machchhar is recovering and has been widely praised.

Putin repeats nuclear warning over Kaliningrad

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow could use all types of weapons, including nuclear ones, if its exclave of Kaliningrad were attacked, amid continuing tension with NATO.

Crew-13 docks at the space station

Four astronauts from NASA, Russia and Canada launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Florida and docked with the ISS. Their work includes growing human tissue and testing space agriculture.

Pentagon eyes space warfare

The Pentagon outlined new initiatives, including a task force on the future of warfare in space.

French students protest

Students staged widespread protests and arson attempts over conditions in schools.

Brazil and oil

Brazil prepares for a tight presidential election, while oil prices rose amid tension in the Middle East.

Pakistan

Government and PTI open talks before planned march

The federal government and PTI began dialogue in the National Assembly Speaker’s chambers in Islamabad, following high-level meetings between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

PTI’s planned long march on 4 October remains the central issue. The opposition links progress to demands that include better treatment for Imran Khan. Law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also discussed.

Seven militants killed in North Waziristan

Security forces killed seven terrorists in an intelligence-based operation. President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz praised the troops. Separate operations in Balochistan and elsewhere also eliminated militants.

Pakistan strikes Kunar and Helmand

Pakistan carried out airstrikes on alleged terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces, saying 22 militants were killed and weapons caches destroyed. Afghan authorities and the UN reported about 9 to 10 civilian deaths, including children.

The Taliban condemned the strikes as aggression. Pakistan called them precise and necessary self-defence against groups attacking from Afghan soil.

Petrol up, diesel slightly down

Petrol, per litre

Rs 390.66

up Rs 3.26

High-speed diesel, per litre

Rs 399.34

slightly down

The new rates took effect on 2 October under the daily pricing mechanism linked to international prices.

Markets and economy

The KSE-100 closed lower the previous day, and the rupee held near Rs 277 to the dollar. Pakistan strongly condemned a reported Houthi attack on a power station near Madina. The IMF noted positive handling of recent oil challenges and urged further gas-sector reforms.

Choosing Dialogue Over Division

Editorial, Rooma Mehmood

Pakistan stands at a familiar crossroads. Political confrontation, security threats along the western border, and everyday economic pressures on ordinary citizens form a difficult triangle. The decision by the government and PTI to sit across the table, however cautiously, is a welcome first step.

Protests and marches are democratic rights. Yet when they risk further polarising an already tense environment, especially in provinces struggling with militancy, responsible leadership on all sides becomes essential. The people of Pakistan have endured enough cycles of street politics that deliver heat without light. Talks that prioritise easing political tensions, improved security cooperation, and genuine economic relief for the public will serve the nation far better than another round of brinkmanship.

At the same time, the state must continue firm action against terrorism. Cross-border sanctuaries cannot be allowed to endanger Pakistani lives. Precision and accountability in such operations remain crucial so that legitimate security needs do not fuel further resentment.

On the economic front, small adjustments in fuel prices remind us how closely global oil markets and local livelihoods are linked. Stability will come not only from external assistance or temporary price relief, but from sustained reforms that reduce the burden of circular debt and improve governance.

In a region marked by volatility, from the skies above the Middle East to the mountains of the Afghan border, Pakistan’s greatest strength remains its people’s resilience. Leaders who choose dialogue, deliver security, and focus on the daily struggles of citizens will find that resilience turned into lasting progress. The coming days will show whether today’s talks mark the beginning of that wiser path.

Rooma News · Islamabad · Published by Rooma Mehmood