Passengers thwart apparent hijack attempt on Israel flight

Update, 5:01 p.m. ET:

Yaniv Hayun, one of the passengers aboard a Flydubai flight met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday, and described his version of events that took place inside the cockpit during what some are calling an apparent hijacking attempt. In a video posted to social media, Netanyahu greeted and thanked Hayun for his bravery during the incident, calling him a hero and a lion.

What happened during the altercation? Hayun’s shirt was still stained with blood when he met with the prime minister and he described putting the attacker in a chokehold while others helped drag him out. He said he rushed back into the cockpit, pulled the controls up, and stopped the dive. Hayun told Netanyahu that he had an aviation background.

Hayun was among at least four Israelis who helped overpower the suspected attacker aboard the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and, according to Israeli assessments, tried to crash the aircraft.

What did Netanyahu say about the injured pilot? In a social media post Wednesday, Netanyahu commended the injured pilot, Capt. Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, for his extraordinary bravery. He said that despite being stabbed and seriously injured, Machchhar fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker, which prevented a catastrophic disaster.

Calling him a true hero, Netanyahu said that Machchhar saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals. He then wished him a speedy and full recovery.

Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev ordered Flydubai flights to Israel temporarily suspended and replaced by Israeli-airline rescue flights under enhanced security, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Passengers who experienced an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, during a flight on FlyDubai plane, arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press / Image by Ariel Schalit

Original post:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauded passengers and crew members who stopped a plane from being hijacked on Wednesday. One pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv stabbed his fellow pilot and attempted to crash the plane carrying nearly all Israeli passengers, according to Netanyahu’s social media account.

One passenger and a crewmember broke into the cockpit after the plane spun and began to dive, the prime minister wrote. The pair subdued the alleged hijacker while another crew member managed to stabilize the plane. Netanyahu added that the plane safely landed at Tabuk Airport in northeastern Saudi Arabia.

The flight’s carrier, FlyDubai, released a statement confirming that all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for after an incident in the flight deck caused the flight to be diverted. The airline urged against public speculation about the suspect’s motives behind the incident before a formal investigation determined all the facts.

What is known about the alleged hijacker? Saudi authorities arrested and began interrogating the knife-wielding pilot, Netanyahu said. Authorities on Wednesday were unsure whether the suspect planned to crash the plane into the ground or target a building. The suspect's motive also remained unclear. Officials planned to update the public about the ongoing situation with any further developments, according to the prime minister.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog appeared to view the incident as a targeted terror attack and thanked the United Arab Emirates for aiding in Israel’s fight against terror within the region, according to a Wednesday statement.

The heroes who subdued the attacker showed exceptional courage and saved many lives, the prime minister said. Netanyahu noted that security services received instructions to prepare for more possible threats.