Israeli Passengers Foiled Pilot's Attack on Flydubai Flight

Passengers aboard a Flydubai flight recounted terrifying moments when the plane plummeted thousands of feet after the co-pilot attacked the captain. The crisis was averted by several passengers who stormed the cockpit, subdued the assailant, and helped stabilize the aircraft. Among the heroes was Israeli dentist Musaib Shute, who, hearing commotion, rushed to the cockpit with three others. They managed to disarm and restrain the co-pilot. Shute then provided medical aid to the severely wounded captain, stemming his bleeding. Another passenger, Yaniv Hayon, described finding the attacker at the controls and wrestling him away. Hayon then re-entered the cockpit and, recalling a TV show about aviation emergencies, pulled on the controls to help level the plane. Two off-duty Flydubai pilots among the passengers ultimately took control and landed the Boeing 737 in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Passengers described the descent as a moment of certain death, with many saying goodbye to loved ones. The 174 people on board, including 27 children, later returned to Israel, where one passenger received medical attention for a minor injury. Israeli authorities are investigating the incident as a potential terrorist act, with Defense Minister Israel Katz calling it a "jihadist attempt at an attack." While a possible link to Iran is being explored, no evidence has been found. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered enhanced security measures for flights to Israel and spoke with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, with a call to U.S. President Donald Trump also planned.