Passenger Rushes Cockpit on Flight to Israel, Shouting About Plane's Safety
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
A passenger on an Arkia flight from Tbilisi to Israel experienced a psychotic episode, attempting to enter the cockpit and shouting about the plane's safety. Flight crew and passengers subdued the man, and the incident was reported to authorities upon landing. Arkia confirmed the event, stating flight safety was not jeopardized.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- A passenger on an Arkia flight from Tbilisi to Israel attempted to breach the cockpit.
- The passenger shouted that the plane needed to be saved and lacked pilots and engines.
- Flight crew and other passengers subdued the man after he banged on the cockpit door.
- Arkia attributed the incident to a psychotic episode and stated flight safety was not compromised.
Approximately one hour after takeoff, a young man in his twenties, accompanied by his parents, ran towards the front of the plane and began banging on the cockpit door, attempting to enter. The reinforced door did not open, but the passenger continued to pound on it, shouting in distress that the plane needed to be saved and that there were no pilots or engines. Flight crew members and other passengers eventually subdued him after a struggle. According to passenger accounts, no air marshals intervened during the incident, and it remains unclear if any were on board. The pilot reported the event to Israel's Air Traffic Control unit. An Arkia source attributed the incident to a "psychotic episode" by the passenger. Arkia confirmed the event, stating that the flight crew, with the family's assistance, handled the situation and reported it to relevant authorities according to procedure. The airline emphasized that flight safety was never compromised.
