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.

SBS Transit has lodged a police report on a boy who was caught flinging a plastic bag of items off Cove LRT station on Sep. 27.

Footage of the incident, shared online on Sep. 28, begins with the bag on the floor of the LRT platform, filled with unidentified objects.

The boy then punched the bag with his fists a few times before picking it up and hurling it off the platform.

In response to Mothership's queries, SBS Transit spokesperson Grace Wu said the operator is aware of the incident that happened at about 11pm that day.

Train service along the Punggol LRT's east loop was still in operation at the time.

"We do not take this lightly as it is a matter of public safety and have since lodged a police report for this act of mischief," Wu said.

Wu also shared that from CCTV footage, the boy was believed to be part of a group of five. Four of them did not tap in at the fare gates when they entered the station.

"This constitutes fare evasion, which is an offence, and we are looking into the matter," she added.

The police confirmed with Mothership that a report was lodged and investigations are ongoing.

Reactions

Under the video, commenters were critical of the boy's actions.

"Very fast [the police] will come [looking] for you," one wrote, while another said: "Within 24 hours... you will be wearing those cuffs."

Many simply tagged the police in their comments to alert them to the incident.

Some wondered what was inside the bag and said they hoped it was not an animal.

Temasek will be establishing offices in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of its plans to expand its Middle East presence.

In a press release on Sep. 30, Singapore's state investment fund announced its intention to "deepen engagement" in the region, where it sees "significant long-term opportunities".

Apart from opening offices in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Temasek will also seek to work with institutions in Qatar as well as other markets in the Middle East.

"This strategic expansion reflects Temasek's long-term commitment and confidence in the region and also strengthens its ability to access opportunities across broader Central Asia and Africa," read the press release.

CEO Dilhan Pillay Sandarasegara called the move a "natural next step", citing the "strong alignment between the region's priorities and Temasek's own areas of focus".

"The pace and ambition of economic transformation across the region are remarkable, and its long-term fundamentals remain highly attractive".

A Malaysian man, 72, said that he and his wife deposited RM1 million (S$313,000) to a bank in Aug. 25, 2006.

According to Sinchew, he money was purportedly placed in two fixed deposit accounts, each with a 2-year lock-in period.

The man said he ended up not withdrawing the money from those accounts for 20 years.

On February 2026, the man claimed that while tidying up his house, he saw a photocopy of the deposit slip, which triggered his memory.

When he went down to the Sibu bank branch in Sarawak to withdraw the money, they told him there was no record of the two deposits.

He then filed a police report.

Further checks with different officials, including travelling to the central bank in Peninsular Malaysia, also came up blank.

Feeling like he had no other options, the man requested police assistance in September of this year as he went down to the bank to ask for the money. An assistant to the state assemblyman also went down with him.

The bank once again told him they had no such records.

The police suggested the possibility that the money had been transferred to the Accountant General's Department since it had been deposited so long ago, saying money does not disappear into thin air.

The man exasperatedly told Sinchew that he hopes the relevant authorities will take a look into this situation.

He pointed out that despite bringing documents to the bank and many other relevant departments, no one had been able to tell him where his money went, calling the whole situation "a frightening thing"

A plane headed for Israel was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a suspected attempt to hijack the flight was averted.

According to the BBC, the Flydubai flight was two hours into a trip from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the incident occurred.

Accounts from passengers on the flight indicated that a pilot was stabbed in the cockpit while an emergency signal and a hijacking warning were set off.

The plane dropped 5.2km in just two minutes during the attack, though all passengers are safe and accounted for, according to the airline.

While the extent of the injuries are yet to be reported, the captain of the aircraft and its first officer have been taken to hospital.

Citing Israeli sources, CNN reported the attack is suspected to be a hijacking attempt though it is unclear if the intention was to crash the plane or take the passengers as hostages.

Witnesses on board the plane described the incidend as "like a terrorist attack in mid-air".

"We were either going to crash or be murdered," said a passenger, according to The New York Post.

Images taken by passengers showed several figures covered in blood; one man with blood running down his face posted a first-person video begging for help and reporting that they'd "subdued the terrorists".

Koh Poh Koon has returned to Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where he had previously worked as a colorectal surgeon.

Koh's latest post — published on Sep. 30 — mentioned his return to clinical practice.

He also shared about Singapore's first Toumai Surgical Robotic System, a new surgical robotic platform.

Koh said that he had worked alongside colleagues at SGH and a team from MicroPort MedBot over the past few months to bring the medical tool to Singapore.

"I hope to continue connecting people, ideas and capabilities across the public and private healthcare sectors."

Koh told The Straits Times that he is currently a visiting consultant surgeon with SGH, and will work on a part-time basis for clinical work.

The former senior minister of state for manpower and health resigned from his office on Jun. 1.

He continues to serve as an MP for Tampines GRC.

In a video posted on Facebook, Koh explained that he was resigning to spend more time with his family, admitting that he had been an "absent husband, father and son" since he stepped into politics in 2015.

Koh is married and has two daughters.

A 76-year-old woman was charged on Sep. 29 for allegedly repeatedly abusing her domestic helper.

According to charge sheets seen by Mothership, Tay Seok Kheng allegedly slapped the helper at least 10 times and also reversed her car towards the helper in a parking lot.

She also allegedly pulled the helper's hair, pinched her and struck her head with a walking stick.

Tay faces 13 charges, including 10 counts of voluntarily causing hurt to the helper.

She is also charged with harassing the helper using abusive words, using criminal force against her, and acting rashly in a manner that endangered her personal safety.

Alleged abuse

Tay allegedly pinched the helper's hand on Oct. 27, 2024 and again on Mar. 5 and 6, 2025.

On Mar. 8, 2025, while reversing her vehicle in a multi-storey car park at Yishun Avenue 1, Tay allegedly drove toward the helper.

On that same day, she was also accused of verbally abusing the helper, such as scolding her "ch**b*i" (which means "cunt" in English), pulling her hair, and slapping her.

At around 8am the next day, Tay allegedly slapped the helper while the two were in the lift of an HDB block in Yishun.

About four hours later, they were in the same lift again, where Tay allegedly hit the helper using a slipper.

At around 5:30pm that day, Tay allegedly slapped the helper once more.

A few days later, on Mar. 11, she allegedly pinched the helper's left wrist and slapped her.

The following day, she was accused of striking the helper's head with a walking stick.

On Mar. 16, Tay was again accused of slapping the helper inside an HDB flat in Yishun.

Tay's next hearing date is scheduled for Oct. 28.

A woman, surnamed Liu (transliteration), told Shin Min Daily News (Shin Min) about how her parents spent over S$7,000 on what they thought was jade and black jade, only to realise they were worth much less.

Liu’s parents had joined a six-day-five-night tour to Guizhou on Sep. 8. The group consisted of about 20 people, a majority of which were elderly.

On the last day of the tour, the guide took the group to a place that sells gemstones.

Her parents did not know where they were exactly, but they were brought to a room to shop.

Although Liu’s mother only intended to buy a jade accessory for herself, her parents ended up buying about 16 pieces of jewelry as the shop assistant kept showing them products.

The jewelry they bought included zodiac ornaments, beaded bracelets, Pixiu, dragon and phoenix pendants, and a "black jade" Buddha pendant. Their total expenditure came to RMB37,240 (S$7,093). Some of the jewelry such as the jade Buddha pendant and the dragon and phoenix pendants came with certificates of authenticity.

Jewelry not made of expensive jade

When Liu’s parents returned from China, they showed her the jewelry they had purchased, and she noticed that "black jade" Buddha pendant seemed unusual.

The 37-year-old said that she had a strong interest in jade since young and had basic knowledge to identify them. To confirm her suspicion, Liu contacted Nanyang Gemological Institute to have two of the jewelry pieces appraised.

The "black jade" Buddha pendant was found to be made of inexpensive serpentine stone, and not of black jadeite as claimed. This means the Buddha pendant was worth less than S$100.

Awaiting a refund

Liu turned to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) for help and was advised to inquire with her bank if she could request a refund for the relevant credit card transaction.

She contacted her bank on Sep. 25, and was told that the process could take 12 to 16 weeks.

Shin Min also reached out to the tour agency and spoke to the trip's guide.

The guide confirmed that the company has received this complaint and is verifying with its partner in Guizhou.

If the complaint is found to be valid, the tour agency will assist with a refund.

He emphasised that the company will provide Liu and her parents with an explanation.

Liu updated Shin Min that the guide contacted her on Sep. 28 and offered to bring the disputed jade products back to Guizhou for a refund.

She preferred to hold on to the jade products until the completion of the bank refund.

Liu hopes that her parents’ experience will remind other tourists to be cautious when shopping overseas.

It's difficult to determine the authenticity of gemstones and jewelry with naked eyes and she encourages the public to do some prior research before purchasing them.

Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad previously announced in Parliament that a new committee will be formed to review safeguards in religious settings and propose ways to strengthen them.

The move came following the case of a religious influencer who sexually abused two young boys at mosque premises. He was sentenced to 27 years and 10 months' jail, and 24 strokes of the cane.

On Sep. 30, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) shared the composition and scope of the Committee to Strengthen Safeguards in Religious Settings.

The committee will focus on safeguarding children and young persons under 18 in key religious settings, such as mosques, madrasahs, and Islamic Education Centres and Providers (IECPs).

Safeguarding framework in religious settings

Among the areas the committee will review are the screening and oversight of individuals who work or volunteer with children and young persons.

It will also examine the professional boundaries governing their interactions and activities with minors, as well as organisational practices aimed at creating safe and child-centred environments.

The committee will look at protocols for reporting and escalating incidents, information-sharing within and across institutions, and how an institution responds to an incident on the ground.

The committee will also examine whether there are accessible ways for children, young persons, and adults to raise concerns, including whistleblowing arrangements and protections for those who make reports.

Training for leaders, staff, and volunteers to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns will also come under the review.

Online religious influence also under review

The committee's scope extends beyond religious institutions too.

It will review safeguards surrounding religious instruction in formal and informal settings, as well as the frameworks governing religious teachers.

The committee will also look at the education and empowerment of children, young persons, and parents on appropriate boundaries, how to raise concerns, and where to seek help.

Emerging risks involving online religious influence, digital communications, and interactions involving children and young persons will also be reviewed.

Preventive approach

MCCY and MUIS said that the review will take a preventive and community-focused approach, looking at the systems, culture and practices that prevent harm, surface concerns early, and

promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young persons.

In reviewing the different areas, the committee will seek the perspectives of children and young persons, parents, asatizah, and religious institutions.

It will also draw on practices from Singapore's broader child safeguarding and protection system.

Members of the public can also submit their views and suggestions through an online feedback form.

Recommendations expected by end-2026

The committee is co-chaired by Razwana Begum, Associate Professor and Head of the Global Security and Strategy Programme at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and Fathurrahman Dawoed, Executive Director of the Education Division at Andalus Corporation.

Its members have backgrounds spanning child protection and wellbeing, law enforcement, governance and risk, Islamic education and religious guidance, as well as online and digital spaces.

The committee is expected to submit its recommendations to Zaqy around the end of 2026.

Its findings and recommendations will subsequently be shared with the community.

A 57-year-old single father from Penang Island had to live with his 16-year-old daughter in their car for four days, after losing his mobility to a stroke.

According to One Hope Charity, their home is located on the fourth floor of a flat that doesn't have a lift.

After the man, Chew Eng Kee, suffered a stroke and was discharged from the hospital, he was unable to walk and his teenage daughter wasn't able to carry him up to their house.

They went about their daily lives, which included eating, sleeping, taking medication and changing Chew's diapers, in the cramped space of a car.

Chew's daughter then reached out to the charity group on Sep. 28 for help after staying in the car for four days.

Second stroke

This was Chew's second time suffering a stroke.

While his movement became slower after the first stroke in 2023, he was able to go about his daily life independently.

Chew was once a private hire driver and singlehandedly raised his daughter after his divorce.

When Chew's daughter was young, there were times when she had to sit in the car with him while he drove passengers around, which sometimes led to complaints from passengers.

One Hope Charity shared that Chew's daughter found him collapsed on the floor on Sep. 18.

He was immediately sent to the hospital for treatment and was discharged on Sep. 24.

However, this time, his mobility was severely affected.

Daughter paused studies to work

According to One Hope Charity, Chew's daughter had to quit school to work to support herself and Chew after Chew's recent stroke.

Her teachers encouraged her to continue studying and tried to provide some financial assistance but it was not enough to cover their living expenses.

Their living expenses now include Chew's medical treatment and physiotherapy.

Chew's daughter became a trainee in a beauty salon as she hopes to pick up the skills to earn a living.

Fundraising efforts

One Hope Charity has since relocated Chew to a nursing home after being notified of their plight.

They also hope to raise RM180,000 (around S$56,000) for Chew and his daughter.

The charity group also updated that Chew's daughter now has a guardian to care for her.

"The funds will be mainly used for the father’s nursing home accommodation and long-term care, medical treatment and rehabilitation, physiotherapy and related treatment expenses, daily living needs, as well as appropriate assistance for his daughter based on her actual circumstances," One Hope Charity wrote.