Daijiworld Media Network - Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Oct 1: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised and embraced passenger Yaniv Hayoun after the Israeli plumber helped restrain an alleged attacker during a mid-air crisis aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The incident occurred on September 30 when the flight was en route to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot, reportedly an Omani national, allegedly stabbed Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and attempted to interfere with the aircraft's controls. The plane subsequently went into a steep descent before passengers, crew members and off-duty pilots helped regain control.

Hayoun rushed into the cockpit after noticing the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude. He helped restrain the alleged attacker and pulled him away from the controls. Hayoun also briefly took hold of the aircraft's controls before an off-duty pilot took over. The flight was later diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

Captain Machchhar was injured in the incident but managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing passengers and crew to enter and overpower the alleged attacker. Netanyahu later praised Machchhar for his actions and credited him with helping save the lives of those aboard the aircraft.

Hayoun later met Netanyahu after returning to Israel. He was still wearing the shirt he had worn during the incident, with blood stains visible on it.

During the meeting, Netanyahu asked Hayoun how he knew what to do inside the cockpit. Hayoun replied that he had watched Air Crash Investigation, a documentary series about aviation accidents. He said watching the programme had given him some understanding of aircraft emergencies and prompted him to pull the controls backwards when he entered the cockpit.