Who Is Yaniv Hayoun? Bloodied Flydubai Passenger Who Helped Subdue ‘Terrorist’ Co-Pilot Meets Netanyahu in Israel After Hijacking Attempt

A passenger who helped subdue the alleged hijacking suspect aboard Wednesday’s flydubai flight met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after landing in Israel, still wearing a blood-stained T-shirt. Yaniv Hayoun met Netanyahu at Ben Gurion Airport after the rescue flight arrived, with his shirt still marked by blood from the incident.

He was among those who entered the cockpit to help stop the co-pilot’s alleged attempt to take control of the aircraft. “When I went in, I saw the terrorist on the control,” Sharir told Netanyahu. “I grabbed the terrorist, put him in a hold, and pulled him outside.” The suspect has since been arrested and is being questioned.

Several Heroes Come Together

This came as it was revealed that an off-duty British pilot helped prevent an Israel-bound flight from crashing after the co-pilot was allegedly stabbed by his captain in what passengers described as a suspected hijacking attempt.

Passengers and crew aboard the Flydubai aircraft managed to restrain the alleged attacker, who they believed was trying to bring down the plane in an apparent suicide mission.

They then fought to regain control of the aircraft, which had plunged 14,000 feet in just 29 seconds, according to Flightradar24 data.

Passenger Amol Itali told the BBC that there were two pilots in the cockpit when one allegedly stabbed the other, while two relief pilots were also on board to operate the flight. “The relief pilots are European, one of them British, who entered [the cockpit] and pulled the aircraft up, pulled the yoke, stabilised the plane and landed us in [Saudi Arabia],” Itali said.

The injured pilot was later identified as Captain Smit Machchhar and was hailed a hero for saving the lives of 180 passengers aboard.

While the plane was cruising, he reportedly fought with his co-pilot in the cockpit as the latter allegedly attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s systems.

Big Threat Avoided

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered Israel’s security services to prepare for any further potential threats while ongoing assessments of the situation continued.

He described the incident as “a highly severe security incident” and said Saudi authorities would question the co-pilot of flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was carrying more than 170 Israelis from the United Arab Emirates to Israel. The cause of the altercation between the pilots was not clear.

The airline said the reasons behind the incident were still unknown and urged people to avoid “premature speculation.” The circumstances that led to the confrontation between the two pilots also remained unclear.

Netanyahu said the co-pilot, whom an Israeli official identified as an Omani national, was arrested after the aircraft landed. Israel’s Transport Ministry said the incident would be investigated jointly with the defense establishment.

“All passengers are out of harm’s way,” Netanyahu said in a video statement issued by his office. He also ordered enhanced security measures for Israeli and foreign airlines operating flights into Israel.

After spending eight hours on the ground in Saudi Arabia, the passengers continued their journey to Israel on a replacement flydubai aircraft.

Netanyahu said a passenger told him that several passengers and a crew member forced their way into the cockpit after the plane “entered a tailspin and began to dive”. They reportedly found the co-pilot “trying to sabotage the plane’s systems”.

“They saved many lives. They prevented a heavy disaster,” Netanyahu said.

Flight data reviewed by Flightradar24 showed the aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before an initial emergency signal was issued Wednesday morning.