Canadian TV Producer Invites Passenger Who Used Show to Save Flight

The producer of the Canadian documentary series "Air Crash Investigation," Alex Birstein, expressed his astonishment after an Israeli passenger, Yeniv Hayun, recounted how he used knowledge gained from the show to help regain control of a Flydubai flight. Hayun, one of four Israeli passengers who subdued a co-pilot during the flight from Dubai to Israel, recalled remembering scenes from the program as he entered the cockpit and assisted in averting disaster. "I couldn't believe one of our viewers used what they saw on our show to save a plane," Birstein stated, inviting Hayun to visit the show's set. The incident occurred when the plane was in distress, and Hayun, recalling the show's depiction of aviation disasters, intervened by pulling on the controls. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Hayun how he knew what to do, Hayun replied that he watched "Air Crash Investigation." Birstein noted that the plane was approximately 90 seconds from impact and that this was the first time he had heard of someone using the show to prevent a crash. The veteran series, now in its 26th season, has explored numerous potential causes of air disasters, including human error, technical malfunctions, and poor decisions. Birstein mentioned that intentional actions by pilots have led to crashes in the past, estimating that 800 to 900 people have died in such incidents. He suggested that following the Flydubai incident, pilot screening, recurrent training, and psychological evaluations should be re-examined to identify individuals who might pose a deliberate threat. Birstein anticipates that the investigation into the incident could take over a year, and if significant safety lessons emerge, the event might become an episode of "Air Crash Investigation."

Hayun, along with fellow passengers Dr. Shota Musaev, Zvika Mans, and Assaf Rejwan, is set to receive a medal of valor from the President of Israel for their actions.