'Hero in a way': Trump hails stabbed Flydubai Indian pilot, calls co-pilot 'whack job'

An Israeli passenger who assisted in subduing the pilot during a Flydubai flight recounted his actions to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. Yaniv entered the cockpit alongside another passenger and found the injured pilot near the door, according to The Times of Israel. When Yaniv saw the terrorist operating the controls, he grabbed him, took him out of the aircraft, and called for other passengers to help restrain him.

Yaniv claimed the attacker was attempting to damage the plane's controls to render the aircraft inoperable. After regaining control of the plane, the pilot took over once more. The flight, originating from Dubai and heading to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing at Tabuk after the cockpit altercation.

The Indian pilot, who sustained serious injuries including a stab wound, was reportedly an Israeli national. Prime Minister Netanyahu described the incident as a "extremely serious security incident" and praised the passengers and crew for preventing a potentially catastrophic disaster.