Israeli Passengers Recount Confrontation With Crew During Hijacking Attempt

Two Israeli passengers on a Flydubai flight recounted their harrowing experience during an attempted hijacking, detailing a confrontation with the flight crew who allegedly demanded they release the co-pilot, identified as Hamaam Al-Hamami. Zvika Mans, one of the passengers who subdued the co-pilot, told the "New York Post" that the crew asked them to untie the "terrorist" without explanation. Daniel Schlichter, another passenger, corroborated this, stating, "They told us to release the terrorist, we immediately started suspecting them." The Israelis restrained Al-Hamami using headphone cords and later plastic zip ties. While Al-Hamami was restrained, passenger Yaniv Hayun heard him shouting "Kill me, kill me," possibly due to the failure of his "jihad operation." However, some crew members then began demanding his release, leading to an argument. The Israeli passengers refused, with Mans recalling the crew saying, "You are not God, you are not going to kill him." The passengers clarified they only wanted to prevent being killed, not to kill Al-Hamami. Schlichter, 59, who was returning from a vacation in Japan with his wife, mentioned that the Israelis provided the injured co-pilot with an oxygen mask, stating, "We wanted him to stay alive so they could interrogate him." A struggle for control ensued, with the crew insisting they were in charge and should be near the cockpit. The Israelis, fearing crew involvement in Al-Hamami's plot, ordered the flight attendants to move away from the cockpit area and sit in the middle of the plane. "From now on, we are in charge and you do what we say," Mans told the crew, admitting they suspected everyone on board. The passengers escorted the crew members to seats further from the cockpit, shouting at them to sit down. A "big guy" was then enlisted to guard the cockpit. According to Schlichter, after the crew sat down, they "started to realize this was a special case" and began attending to traumatized passengers with blankets and water. The crew members have not been accused of colluding with the co-pilot. Flydubai stated it cannot comment on the ongoing investigation but is cooperating with authorities. The investigation revealed Al-Hamami stabbed the Indian pilot, Smith Machacher, with an emergency axe. Despite his injury, the pilot managed to open the cockpit door, allowing Hayun to subdue Al-Hamami and stabilize the aircraft. Al-Hamami was transferred to the Emirates, and authorities there have now classified the incident as a "terrorist act." He appears to have acted alone.