Israeli Passengers Recount Mid-Air Drama on Flydubai Flight

Israeli passengers who thwarted an attempted hijacking on a Flydubai flight shared harrowing details of the incident with the New York Post. After subduing and restraining the co-pilot, Hammam Al-Hamami, who attacked the captain with an axe, the passengers were shocked when some flight crew members demanded they release the hijacker. Daniel Schlichter, a real estate agent who helped tie up Al-Hamami, recounted that crew members insisted, "You are not God, you are not going to kill him." Tzvika Mans, a senior banking executive also involved in subduing the hijacker, stated that the passengers were bewildered by the request and immediately became suspicious of the crew, fearing for their lives. The situation escalated into a struggle for control of the cockpit, with the crew insisting they were in charge. However, the Israelis, suspecting potential crew involvement in the plot, ordered them to leave the cockpit area and move to the main cabin, asserting their own control. "We told them now the policy is that we are in charge and you will do what we say," Mans explained, adding, "We didn't know what to think, we suspected every flight attendant."

The hijacking attempt began when Al-Hamami attacked the Indian captain, Smith Machacher, with an axe. Despite severe injuries, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing Mans, along with passengers Yeniv Hayon and Assaf Radwan, to confront the attacker. During the violent struggle, the plane plummeted 17,000 feet in a matter of minutes. Hayon, who had learned stabilization techniques from the TV show "Air Crash Investigation," managed to regain control of the aircraft. Mans described the terrifying moments of the dive, recalling thoughts of the 9/11 attacks and his daughters crying, which fueled his fight. He characterized the intense struggle, involving punches and kicks, as ordinary people fighting to save their families, calling it the longest minute of his life.