Tel Aviv: An Israeli passenger who helped overpower the co-pilot during the mid-air crisis aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 has recounted the dramatic cockpit struggle to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after returning to Israel.

Yaniv Hayun was among the passengers who intervened after a violent confrontation erupted inside the cockpit of the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight on September 30. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was carrying 174 people when the aircraft suddenly began losing altitude following the confrontation between the captain and co-pilot.

The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. The injured Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, was taken to hospital, while passengers and crew helped restrain the co-pilot. A reserve flight crew subsequently took control of the aircraft and landed it safely.

Passenger describes fight inside cockpit

Hayun, who was travelling on the flight, was one of the passengers who moved towards the cockpit after hearing the commotion.

According to his account, the situation escalated rapidly as passengers realised that the aircraft was in serious danger. The plane began making sudden movements and losing altitude while people near the front of the cabin attempted to understand what was happening.

Hayun later described to Netanyahu how he entered the cockpit and helped regain control of the aircraft. His account forms part of a series of passenger testimonies that have emerged following the incident.

Reuters reported that passengers and crew intervened after the captain managed to open the cockpit door despite being injured. They then helped overpower the attacker, allowing other pilots who were travelling as passengers to take control of the aircraft.

Aircraft plunged during cockpit struggle

The incident caused the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly. Flight-tracking information showed a dramatic descent during the emergency.

Passengers described experiencing what initially felt like severe turbulence before realising that something was seriously wrong. Some passengers heard shouting and fighting near the cockpit and saw blood after the cockpit door was opened.

Another passenger, identified as Daniel, told Israel’s Channel 12 that he heard what sounded like a fight near the cockpit. He said three Israeli passengers sitting nearby moved towards the cockpit to find out what was happening. The aircraft then suddenly went sharply nose-down and began spinning.

India Today reported that the aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, while other accounts and flight-tracking reports have given somewhat different measurements of the descent. The precise sequence and cause of the aircraft’s movements remain part of the investigation.

Captain Smit Machchhar injured in attack

The captain at the centre of the incident was identified as Indian pilot Smit Machchhar.

Israeli officials said the co-pilot stabbed Machchhar during the confrontation and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Machchhar was seriously injured but managed to resist and open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to intervene.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later praised Machchhar, saying his actions helped prevent a catastrophic outcome. Netanyahu said the Indian captain fought back despite his injuries and helped create the opportunity for passengers and crew to overpower the attacker.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Machchhar’s actions, describing his conduct during the emergency as courageous and wishing him a speedy recovery.

Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk after the emergency landing. The co-pilot was also injured and was taken into custody by Saudi authorities, according to reports.

Reserve pilots take control

Once passengers and crew had subdued the co-pilot, the aircraft still faced the immediate challenge of being safely flown to the ground.

Fortunately, other pilots were travelling aboard the flight. They entered the cockpit and assisted with operating the aircraft after the original crew became unable to continue normally.

The reserve crew stabilised the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and diverted it to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The aircraft landed safely, with all passengers subsequently accounted for.

Flydubai later operated a rescue flight to transport the passengers from Tabuk to Tel Aviv. The passengers eventually arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, where Netanyahu met some of those involved in the incident.

Netanyahu meets passengers after emergency

After the passengers reached Israel, Netanyahu met some of those who had helped during the emergency.

Hayun’s account gave the Israeli Prime Minister a first-hand description of what happened inside the aircraft. His testimony adds to information from other passengers who have described the panic and confusion as the plane suddenly lost altitude.

The incident has attracted considerable attention in Israel because the aircraft was carrying a large number of Israeli passengers. Netanyahu credited the captain, passengers and crew with helping prevent a potentially catastrophic outcome.

Israeli officials have described the incident as an apparent attempt to take control of the aircraft, while the circumstances and motive remain under investigation. Flydubai has used the term “altercation” in its public statements and authorities are continuing to examine what happened inside the cockpit.

Investigation into cockpit incident continues

The exact motive behind the co-pilot’s actions has not been conclusively established.

Reports have identified the co-pilot as an Omani national, while Saudi authorities are investigating the incident. Israeli officials have raised the possibility that the aircraft was deliberately targeted, but investigators will need to establish the sequence of events and intent before a final conclusion can be reached.

For the passengers, however, the immediate crisis ended with the aircraft landing safely in Tabuk and everyone eventually reaching Israel.

The accounts of Hayun and other passengers highlight the critical role played by people inside the aircraft during the emergency. The actions of the injured captain, passengers, crew members and reserve pilots helped stabilise the situation until the aircraft could be safely diverted and landed.

The investigation is expected to examine the cockpit confrontation, the aircraft’s rapid descent, the actions of those involved and the circumstances that led to the emergency.