{
  "id": 11215993,
  "title": "Plumber who helped save flydubai flight credits TV air disaster series",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/plumber-who-helped-save-flydubai-flight-credits-tv-air-disaster-series-11215993",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T14:45:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/01/plumber-who-helped-save-flydubai-flight-credits-tv-air-disaster-series"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Yaniv Hayoun, a plumber, played a crucial role in preventing a crash on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During the ordeal, the aircraft plummeted thousands of feet within minutes before being regained control. When asked how he knew what to do, Hayoun attributed his actions to watching the TV series Mayday, which explores aviation disasters. The series, broadcast internationally since 2003, examines well-known accidents using audio recordings, eyewitness accounts, and expert interviews. After Hayoun overpowered the co-pilot who had stabbed the captain, he took control of the aircraft and stabilized it before a second crew took over. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The stabbed captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, is in stable condition and has been hailed as a hero. The motive of the co-pilot, who is in custody, remains unknown. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recounted the incident in an interview with CBS, noting that Hayoun told him he is a plumber.",
  "summary": "Yaniv Hayoun said after helping to overpower the co-pilot who had stabbed the captain, he entered the cockpit, took the controls and began pulling back on the levers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Plumber who helped save flydubai flight credits TV air disaster series",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/plumber-who-helped-save-flydubai-flight-credits-tv-air-disaster-series",
        "published": "2026-10-01T14:45:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}