Passengers Subdue Pilot in Mid-Air Attack on Flydubai Flight

Passengers on a Flydubai flight recounted harrowing moments of terror and a physical struggle after a pilot allegedly attacked another crew member and attempted to crash the plane. Zvika Mans, a passenger who was among those who subdued the assailant, described hearing screams from the cockpit and the aircraft entering a sharp dive. "My little daughter was in the bathroom and my wife accompanied her and heard shouts and strange noises from the cockpit," Mans said, explaining that his wife alerted a crew member outside the cockpit. When the door opened, a struggle ensued with the attacker, leading Mans and two other passengers to intervene. The pilot who was attacked was reportedly stabbed, and the plane began to descend rapidly as the attacker fought back. "He tried to really steer the plane towards the ground, people were flying, and there were screams," Mans testified. Passengers used headphone cords to restrain the attacker after he was removed from the cockpit. Meanwhile, a doctor and nurse on board provided aid to the stabbed pilot, stabilizing his condition. Mans credited the injured pilot for opening the cockpit door, which allowed passengers to intervene. Another pilot then entered the cockpit and took control of the aircraft, stabilizing it. The flight was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the attacker was apprehended by Saudi authorities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he spoke with an Israeli passenger who reported the plane entered a spin and began to dive. Netanyahu described the incident as a likely attempt by the pilot to crash the plane, praising the passengers and crew for their bravery in neutralizing the attacker and preventing a major disaster. Defense Minister Israel Katz called the event a "jihadist terror attempt," echoing the assessment that the attacker intended to crash the plane. Passengers expressed apprehension about flying with the same airline again, but were reportedly reassured by Israeli security officials. Mans noted that the pilots on the replacement flight were Australian and Ukrainian.