Pilot, Plumber and Dentist Among Those Who Helped Save Flydubai Flight to Israel
A Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced into an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a serious incident unfolded inside the cockpit. The aircraft was carrying 174 people when one pilot reportedly attacked the other during the flight.
According to reports from passengers and Israeli officials, the injured pilot, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, managed to open the cockpit door despite suffering serious injuries. This allowed passengers and crew members to enter the cockpit and intervene. (The Guardian)
Among those who responded were Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun, a plumber by profession, and Dr Shota Musayev, a dentist travelling on the aircraft. Hayoun entered the cockpit during the struggle and helped restrain the attacker. He also briefly handled the aircraft controls before other crew members took over. (AP News)
Musayev used his medical training to assist the badly injured pilot. He reported that Machchhar had suffered heavy bleeding and that he worked to control the bleeding and help stabilize him while the emergency continued. (The Times of Israel)
Additional pilots who were travelling on the aircraft also became involved. They eventually helped stabilize the Boeing 737 and guide it toward an emergency landing at Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The passengers were later transported onward to Israel. (AP News)
The aircraft had reportedly descended thousands of feet in a very short period, creating a frightening situation for passengers. Aviation experts quoted in media reports expressed surprise that the aircraft remained controllable after the extreme descent. (AP News)
The incident is now under investigation, and authorities have not publicly established a definitive motive for the attack. Reports have described the alleged attacker as an Omani national who was arrested after the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia. (AP News)
The episode has drawn international attention because the response involved several people with very different backgrounds: an injured pilot who managed to open the cockpit, passengers who intervened physically, a dentist who provided emergency medical assistance and qualified pilots who helped regain control of the aircraft.
The passengers eventually reached Israel safely, bringing an end to a mid-air emergency that had threatened the lives of everyone aboard.