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‘You’re Not Going To Die Today’: Israeli Passenger Recalls Saving Flydubai Flight After Pilot Attack
In Short
Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayun recalls how he entered the cockpit of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, helped restrain the injured captain’s co-pilot and briefly assisted in stabilising the aircraft.
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Indian Captain Smit Machchhar while helping prevent a potentially catastrophic incident.
An Israeli passenger who helped intervene during the dramatic cockpit crisis aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has recalled how he reassured injured Indian Captain Smit Machchhar while helping prevent a potentially catastrophic incident.
Yaniv Hayun, who was travelling with his daughter Noa, was among the 174 people aboard Flight FZ1073 when a confrontation broke out inside the cockpit on Wednesday. According to his account, Hayun and a crew member forced their way into the cockpit after finding the door unlocked.
Inside, they found Captain Machchhar seriously injured on the floor, while the Omani co-pilot was at the aircraft's controls.
Passenger Entered Cockpit During Rapid Descent
Hayun told India Today that he immediately moved towards the co-pilot and pulled him away from the controls. He said the attacker resisted but was eventually dragged out of the cockpit with the help of other passengers.
The situation remained chaotic as the aircraft was descending rapidly. While some passengers focused on restraining the co-pilot and others attended to Machchhar, Hayun moved towards the flight controls.
He said the aircraft was still in a steep descent when he attempted to help stabilise it. Hayun, who works as a plumber, said his familiarity with aircraft controls came partly from watching the television programme Air Crash Investigations.
According to his account, he pulled back on the controls and helped bring the aircraft out of its dive. Two off-duty pilots who were travelling among the passengers subsequently took over the aircraft's controls.
‘You’re Not Going To Die Today’
Hayun said he saw Machchhar badly injured inside the cockpit and tried to reassure him.
“He was an absolute hero,” Hayun said, recalling that he told the captain that he would not die.
He also credited Machchhar with making it possible for passengers to enter the cockpit. According to Hayun, the captain appears to have managed to unlock the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene.
Machchhar’s action has also been highlighted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised the Indian pilot’s conduct during the emergency.
Hayun Says Motive Remains Unclear
While the co-pilot appeared to interfere with the aircraft's controls, Hayun said he could not determine what had motivated the attack or whether the co-pilot intended to crash the plane.
He said the immediate priority was to remove the attacker from the cockpit and prevent the aircraft from crashing.
The motive behind the incident remains under investigation. Authorities in Saudi Arabia have arrested the Omani national identified as the co-pilot, while investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
Netanyahu Meets Hayun After Passengers Return To Israel
After reaching Israel, Hayun met Netanyahu at Ben Gurion Airport and described the struggle inside the cockpit.
Hayun was still wearing the clothes he had worn during the incident, which had become stained during the struggle. Netanyahu embraced him and praised his actions.
During their conversation, Netanyahu asked Hayun whether he had actually pulled back on the aircraft's controls. Hayun confirmed that he had and referred to his knowledge of aircraft emergencies from watching Air Crash Investigations.
Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Saudi Arabia
The aircraft was eventually brought under control with assistance from the off-duty pilots travelling as passengers. It was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.
Captain Machchhar was seriously injured in the cockpit confrontation and was taken to hospital in Saudi Arabia. He has since received widespread praise from Indian and Israeli leaders for his actions during the emergency.
The incident is being investigated, with authorities yet to establish the co-pilot's motive or provide a definitive account of what triggered the cockpit confrontation.
