Flydubai passenger describes putting attacker in chokehold after cockpit stabbing

Passengers on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv recounted the terrifying moment when a pilot stabbed his co-pilot, attempting to disable the plane mid-flight. Yaniv Hayun, a passenger, put the attacker in a chokehold and pulled him out of the cockpit, calling out for help from other passengers. The plane plummeted 17,000 feet in less than two minutes, causing panic among the passengers.

Upon entering the cockpit, Hayun saw one pilot down and the attacker on the instruments, trying to destroy them. After securing the attacker, Hayun reportedly began pulling the controls, stabilizing the plane. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Hayun, calling him a "great hero" and a "lion." The plane eventually landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and the passengers were repatriated to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.

The wounded pilot, Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, is in stable condition. The attacker, an Indian national, was arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an attempted jihadist terror attack.