Man who subdued alleged hijacker of Israel-bound flight meets Netanyahu while still covered in blood from incident

An Israeli plumber who saved a flight from being allegedly hijacked and potentially crashed met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who congratulated him.

The passenger, Yaniv Hayoun, rushed to the cockpit and placed the attempted hijacker in a chokehold, reported the New York Post.

He then steered the flight back up from its rapid descent.

The Flydubai flight's co-pilot allegedly stabbed the other pilot and attempted to crash the plane, according to Reuters.

Though the exact number is still unclear, Reuters reported the plane plunged 14,000 feet (4.2km) in less than 30 seconds.

🔴 Impressionnante vidéo au moment de l’attaque à bord du vol Flydubai reliant Dubaï à Tel Aviv.

Des passagers, dont deux pilotes hors service présents à bord, auraient aidé l’équipage à reprendre le contrôle de l’appareil.

Les deux pilotes aux commandes auraient été grièvement… pic.twitter.com/5U9pa77Jxv

— air plus news (@airplusnews) September 30, 2026

While laying on the floor wounded, the pilot, one Smit Machchhar, managed to activate the cockpit door release, which allowed passengers to enter the cockpit and restrain the co-pilot. 

An Israeli official claimed that the co-pilot was an Omani national.

A pair of off-duty pilots who were on board the plane later helped divert the flight to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where a second flight was arranged to bring the passengers to Israel.

Chokehold

The New York Post reported that Hayoun had been sitting right behind business class when he heard a commotion from the cockpit.

He told The Free Press that someone on board screamed that there was a stabbing, and that the plane began a steep plunge shortly after.

When he entered the cockpit, he reportedly put the co-pilot in a chokehold and dragged him out of the cockpit. Other passengers managed to restrain him with zip ties.

Hayoun then managed to regain control of the flight and steer the plane up to stop the descent.

He allegedly learned flight controls from watching the air disaster documentary series "Mayday".

The other passengers then provided first aid to the wounded pilot, keeping him alive.

Meeting with Netanyahu

After the passengers arrived in Israel, Netanyahu met with them, personally giving Hayoun a hug.

In pictures posted to the official X account of the Prime Minister of Israel, Hayoun was apparently still covered in blood all over, including his socks, which he showed Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at Ben-Gurion International Airport with Yaniv, the passenger who burst into the cockpit on the flight from Dubai to Israel.

Photos: Kobi Gideon (GPO) pic.twitter.com/PcCNzKLUKj

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 30, 2026

Netanyahu hailed him as a hero, saying that he and the other passengers "prevented a serious tragedy".

Spokespersons from Netanyahu's office told Reuters that they would be tightening checks on pilots flying to Israel.