Israeli Passenger Recounts Harrowing Mid-Air Struggle to Prevent Plane Crash
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli passenger Assaf Radwan described a mid-air struggle to prevent a plane crash.
- Radwan and four others fought the co-pilot in the cockpit.
- The passengers subdued the co-pilot with zip ties.
- Other crew members stabilized the plane and landed it in Saudi Arabia.
- Passengers initially hesitated to board a replacement flight.
- Radwan called the experience a 'nightmare movie'.
Assaf Radwan, an Israeli businessman on vacation in Thailand, described the terrifying moments he and four other passengers fought to regain control of a plane that was reportedly diving sharply. The incident began when screams were heard from the lavatory, followed by the plane losing altitude rapidly. Radwan and the other passengers entered the cockpit, finding it filled with blood, and struggled with the co-pilot who appeared to be attempting to crash the aircraft.
Radwan emphasized that the heroic actions were a group effort, stating, "It's not just me. It's me and four other friends. We all showed resourcefulness together. Without thinking too much, we decided it was do or die. So we decided to go for it." He recounted how they subdued the co-pilot with zip ties and held him for 55 minutes.
During the struggle, two additional flight crew members, believed to be British pilots, entered the cockpit. One of them, identified as James, managed to stabilize the aircraft and regain control. The plane was subsequently landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Following the landing, Radwan and other passengers expressed hesitation about boarding a replacement Flydubai flight, demanding assurances about the safety of the crew and the flight. Radwan described the experience as a "nightmare movie" and expressed disbelief that such an event could occur in reality, but ultimately felt life was stronger than the circumstances.
Radwan, who owns an insurance agency and enjoys playing tennis, stated he was still in shock and struggling to process the events. He credited the successful outcome to the "right people at the right time" and a collective effort to save the passengers and crew.
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