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Hero 6-Year-Old Nina Manes Saves Flydubai Flight Passengers During Mid-Air Attack
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Firstpost•02-10-2026, 15:23
Hero 6-Year-Old Nina Manes Saves Flydubai Flight Passengers During Mid-Air Attack
- •Six-year-old Nina Manes and her mother, Tali, played a crucial role in alerting passengers during a mid-air emergency on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- •The incident involved an alleged attack by the Omani co-pilot on Indian Captain Smit Machchaar, leading to a violent struggle in the cockpit.
- •Nina's father, Tzvika Manes, and other passengers intervened to restrain the attacker after the plane entered a steep descent, dropping 17,400 feet in 90 seconds.
- •An off-duty pilot on board took control of the aircraft, and a dentist provided critical medical aid to the injured Captain Machchaar, saving his life.
- •The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and authorities from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Israel are investigating the incident and the co-pilot's identity.
Key Questions Answered
The Flydubai flight descended abruptly after the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked and stabbed the Indian captain, Smit Machchaar, in the cockpit during an apparent attempt to take control of the aircraft.
Nina and her mother, Tali, heard a violent struggle while near the forward restroom and alerted people by screaming that the pilot was being stabbed, prompting passengers and crew to respond.
After an off-duty pilot helped take control and passengers restrained the alleged attacker, the aircraft made a safe emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
