Stories
Netanyahu Hails ‘Lion Man’ Who Foiled Cockpit Attack on Flydubai Flight
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Yoniv, a passenger who helped restrain a pilot during a violent mid-air incident on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- •Netanyahu praised Yoniv's actions, calling him a ‘lion-man’ for intervening in the cockpit attack, which he described as an attempt to crash the plane.
- •The incident occurred on Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an altercation between pilots led to an emergency descent.
- •Passengers and crew, including a reserve crew member, intervened to overpower the alleged attacker, with an Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar, also credited with helping.
- •The incident has triggered a security investigation in Israel and Saudi Arabia, with Israeli authorities examining the possibility of an attempted terror attack.
Key Questions Answered
An altercation occurred inside the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073 when one of the pilots allegedly stabbed the other and tried to crash the plane. The aircraft experienced a sharp descent and was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely after passengers and crew intervened.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Israeli passenger Yaniv at Ben Gurion Airport and embraced him, calling him a "lion-man" for helping restrain the pilot during the violent mid-air incident. Netanyahu saluted the heroes for preventing a major disaster.
The incident has triggered security investigations by authorities in both Israel and Saudi Arabia, with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz describing it as an attempted terror attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would strengthen aviation security following the event.
