1 hr ago
Passenger Restrains Attacker After Flydubai Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia
A Flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Israel when a frightening fight happened in the cockpit.
One pilot was stabbed, according to reports.
The plane began losing altitude while the suspected attacker was near the controls.
Passenger Yaniv Hayoun and others forced their way into the cockpit.
Hayoun said he held the attacker in a chokehold and pulled him away.
He then helped bring the plane’s nose back up until a pilot took control.
The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia instead of continuing to Israel.
The attacker’s motive was not known, and Israeli leaders praised the passengers and crew for their courage.
Yaniv Hayoun and other passengers entered the cockpit after one pilot was stabbed during a Flydubai flight.
Hayoun said he put the alleged attacker in a chokehold and dragged him away from the controls.
The aircraft reportedly lost altitude before passengers and crew helped regain control.
The flight diverted from its route to Tel Aviv and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Benjamin Netanyahu praised Hayoun, the injured pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, and others involved in preventing a disaster.
- Who
- Passenger Yaniv Hayoun, other passengers and crew members, the injured pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, and the alleged attacker were involved; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later met the passengers.
- What
- A mid-flight cockpit confrontation followed the reported stabbing of one pilot, with passengers restraining the alleged attacker and helping prevent the aircraft from continuing its descent.
- Where
- The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv before diverting and landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- When
- The incident occurred during a Flydubai flight and was reported on Wednesday; the exact date was not provided.
- Why
- Reports say the alleged attacker was trying to disable the aircraft or crash it; the motive remained unclear.
Key facts
- Flight route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Airline
- Flydubai
- Emergency landing
- Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- Passenger credited with intervention
- Yaniv Hayoun
- Injured pilot
- Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national
- Passengers aboard
- The repatriation flight included 27 children, according to one report
- Security response
- Benjamin Netanyahu ordered authorities to increase security on Israeli and non-Israeli carriers
Quotes
Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
“When I went in, I saw the terrorist on the devices between the two chairs. I grabbed the terrorist, choked him, and pulled him away from there. He tried to ruin the devices to neutralise the plane, which had its nose pointing down”
NDTV
“I see you and I see a lion. You are a great hero. What you did is just unbelievable. You saved not only the passengers of the plane, but many others”
NDTV
Captain Smit Machchhar
Indian pilot praised by Netanyahu for resisting the attacker and opening the cockpit door
“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker—preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster”
wionews.com
Sources
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