Passengers on a flight to Israel subdued a pilot who stabbed his co-pilot and seemed intent on sabotaging the aircraft, leaving many fearing for their lives.
Yaniv Hayun, who emerged from the ordeal in a blood-smeared shirt, shared his experience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, explaining that he realised something was amiss when the plane suddenly dropped.
The flight, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, plummeted 17,000 feet (about 5,200 metres) in under two minutes. “Someone screamed… the light went out,” Hayun recounted in a video shared by Netanyahu.
Hayun and other passengers attempted to force open the cockpit door but struggled as the stabbed pilot was too close. Just before collapsing, the injured pilot managed to open the door.
Upon entering the cockpit, Hayun saw one pilot down and the attacker attempting to damage the controls. “I grabbed the attacker, put him in a chokehold, and pulled him – first and foremost – outside,” he said.
With the help of two other passengers, Hayun quickly pinned the attacker down to ensure he could not pose any further threat.
