Brave Passengers Thwart Co-Pilot's Attack on Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight

Four Israeli passengers heroically subdued a co-pilot who attacked the captain and attempted to crash a Flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. The co-pilot, identified as being from Oman, allegedly used an "axe" found in the cockpit to stab the captain, an Indian national, and then tried to disable the aircraft's controls. The incident occurred mid-flight with 174 passengers on board.

One passenger, Yaniv Hayun, heard screams from the cockpit and, upon entering, found the Omani co-pilot attempting to sabotage the plane's instruments. Hayun managed to restrain the attacker, pulling him out of the cockpit and calling for help. He then re-entered the cockpit and, using his knowledge of aviation, stabilized the aircraft by manipulating the controls until the captain, despite his injuries, could regain command.

Assaf Radwan and Tzvi Mance also rushed to the cockpit. Radwan described the plane losing control and descending sharply. Together with other passengers and some crew members, they managed to overpower and tie up the assailant using a headphone cable. A dentist, Shota Musayev, who was also on board, helped secure the attacker and then provided crucial medical aid to the severely wounded captain, stemming his bleeding and stabilizing him until landing.

The injured captain, Smit Machchhar, is credited with opening the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing the passengers to intervene. He is hospitalized in Saudi Arabia in stable condition and is out of danger. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the captain's bravery, stating he "saved the lives of 174 people" and prevented a major disaster. The flight was diverted and landed safely in Saudi Arabia, where the captain received further medical treatment.