A tense situation unfolded aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Israel when a passenger intervened to restrain an attacker in the cockpit. The incident began when a pilot was stabbed by a fellow crew member, leading to concerns that the plane’s safety was at risk.
In-Flight Chaos and Quick Response
Yaniv Hayun, one of the passengers on the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, recounted the harrowing experience. After the aircraft suddenly dropped 17,000 feet in under two minutes, Hayun realized something was amiss. The lights went out, and panic ensued among the passengers.
Hayun, along with others, attempted to access the cockpit but found their efforts hampered by the injured pilot’s proximity to the door. Despite his injuries, the pilot managed to open the door, allowing Hayun and another passenger to enter and confront the attacker.
Subduing the Threat
Inside the cockpit, Hayun saw the attacker trying to tamper with the plane’s controls. Acting swiftly, he put the assailant in a chokehold and pulled him away from the instruments. Additional passengers joined Hayun, and together they restrained the attacker using zip ties and headphones.
With the attacker subdued, Hayun attempted to stabilize the aircraft. When asked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he knew what he was doing, Hayun humorously referred to his knowledge from watching ‘Air Crash Investigation’. Soon after, two pilots from the cabin took over the controls and helped level the plane.
Safe Landing and Aftermath
The Flydubai flight safely landed at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia, where passengers were transferred to a repatriation flight to Tel Aviv. They were warmly welcomed with music and dancing upon their arrival.
Passenger Haim Lazarovich expressed relief at surviving what he described as the “most terrifying moment” when the pilot lost control. Many passengers were visibly emotional as they disembarked.
Investigation and Reactions
The injured pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, was hospitalized but is in stable condition. The attacker, now in custody, is under investigation by Saudi authorities. Israeli officials have suggested it may have been an attempted jihadist attack, though no official motive has been confirmed.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have both responded to the incident, with Trump discussing the potential motivations behind the attack. Meanwhile, Netanyahu hailed both Hayun and Captain Machchhar as heroes for their bravery during the crisis.
