A stabbing incident aboard a Flydubai flight en route to Israel prompted a dramatic emergency landing after passengers intervened to subdue the attacker. The event unfolded when a male passenger allegedly attacked the pilot with a knife, leading to chaos in the cabin as passengers rushed to assist.
According to reports from BBC, passenger Yaniv Hayun described the harrowing moments as he and others attempted to open the cockpit door while the injured pilot was close by. Hayun recounted that the pilot managed to open the door before collapsing, and inside, the assailant was reportedly trying to disable the aircraft’s instruments.
In a courageous act, Hayun placed the attacker in a chokehold and, with the help of other passengers, managed to pull him out of the cockpit. He later explained that he instinctively took control of the plane, recalling his knowledge from the documentary series “Air Crash Investigation.” Another passenger, Zvika Meness, stated that he and others used zip ties and multimedia headphones to restrain the attacker.
Witnesses described a scene of panic as the aircraft began to lose control. Yasmin Abukasis shared that her daughter, who was on the flight, reported seeing a man with a knife forcing one of the pilots to the floor, with blood visible in the cabin. Abukasis recounted her daughter’s phone call, during which she heard screams and a pilot calling for help as two other pilots took control of the situation.
Almog Itali, another passenger, noted that one of the pilots who successfully landed the aircraft was British, while the other was of European nationality. Passengers expressed their relief after the ordeal, with one female passenger describing the moment as “very stressful” when they realised the plane was descending uncontrollably.
Despite the traumatic experience, passengers reported that they were now safe and eager to return home. The incident highlights the bravery of those on board who acted swiftly to prevent further tragedy during a critical moment.
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