Children Recount Terror Attempt Aboard Flydubai Flight

A 16-year-old passenger described his terror during an attempted hijacking on a Flydubai flight on Wednesday, September 30, when a co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to crash the plane. Peleg Italy recounted praying for paradise as the aircraft plummeted, believing he was about to die. He witnessed other passengers rush to subdue the attacker, who had reportedly injured the captain with an emergency axe. Passengers were not informed about the unfolding events, increasing their fear. "You don't know what happened. Nobody tells you there's a terrorist on board or that someone was actually injured," Peleg said. He also observed a mother trying to comfort her young daughters amidst the chaos. An 8-year-old passenger, Omer Shalom, flying with her parents and sisters, stated she was terrified the plane would crash. Her father explained that a woman alerted them after hearing screams from the cockpit area. The passenger credited Yaniv Hayon, identified as an Israeli dentist, with subduing the attacker and saving the flight. The investigation is examining the possibility that the co-pilot used an emergency axe from the cockpit to wound the captain, who is of Indian origin. Authorities have dismissed the idea that the attacker brought the axe aboard, citing strict security checks for flight crews. A potential link between the co-pilot and Iran is also being investigated, though no evidence has been found at this stage.