Heroic Passenger Recounts Foiling Flydubai Terror Attempt

Yeniv Hayon, a plumber by profession and a hero of a recent Flydubai flight, detailed his experience thwarting a terror attack during an interview on the program "Meet the Press." Hayon described the terrifying moments when a passenger attacked the cockpit, causing the plane to shake violently and dive. He recounted how he rushed towards the cockpit, pushed aside a crew member, and entered to find the attacker attempting to disable the aircraft's systems. Hayon stated he managed to reach the controls and pull up the plane's nose, preventing a crash, though he noted this was only for a few seconds before a pilot regained control.

Hayon explained that after the immediate threat to the cockpit was neutralized, he and other passengers subdued the attacker, who reportedly asked to be killed towards the end of the flight. He also described the chaos and fear among the 170 Israeli passengers, emphasizing that they remained vigilant until the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Hayon mentioned that upon landing, his daughter took a photo of him, which he saw on the news, and that he was concerned about informing his other children he was safe.

Despite the harrowing experience, Hayon admitted to being afraid to board a subsequent Flydubai flight, questioning the security checks for pilots. He also noted that he had not received any compensation offers. Hayon, who was a cook in the military, expressed his eagerness to return to work, humorously referring to his plumbing business as "upgraded."