On September 30th, a passenger plane flying from Dubai, UAE to Tel Aviv, Israel encountered an emergency in the air. In the face of this terrifying incident, U.S. President Donald Trump paid special attention to a passenger who had helped subdue the attacker and rushed into the cockpit to assist in stabilizing the plane.
According to CNN, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu about this matter. He also said that the passengers' actions in subduing the attackers were 'simply incredible'.
Trump said, “The co-pilot seems to be a terrorist.” He mentioned that Netanyahu told him that the co-pilot believed he was planning to cause the plane to crash.
Trump then recounted a passenger who he called "the pipe fitter".
He had never flown an airplane, and rarely did he fly. It was a person who had never flown an airplane that managed to hold the control wheel and pull it up, allowing the plane to return to level flight before it crashed.
According to Trump, the passenger later told him that he knew how to operate the aircraft because he often watched the aviation accident documentary “Air Crash Investigation”.
Trump also joked that he doesn’t like watching this show, “because there are always bad things happening in it.”
“But he said that he has been watching this program all along, and from it he learned how to fly an airplane. I think that’s the most amazing thing.”
However, Trump also reminded reporters that the version he was telling was the one given to him by Netanyahu. “This is the story I heard—I don’t know if it’s true, but this is what Bibi told me.”
Reuters reported that Flight FZ1073 of Dubai Airways was carrying 174 passengers, most of whom were Israeli citizens. Israeli officials said that the co-pilot stabbed the captain in the cockpit and attempted to cause the plane to crash. The aircraft descended rapidly by nearly 14,000 feet within less than 30 seconds. Passengers and crew rushed into the cockpit to subdue the co-pilot. Two other Dubai Airways pilots took over the control of the plane and safely landed it in Tabuk, northwest of Saudi Arabia. More than ten hours later, passengers arrived in Tel Aviv on an alternate flight.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at Ben-Gurion International Airport on that day and met with passengers who participated in subduing the attackers.
Among them, Yaniv Hayun was still wearing the blood-stained clothes from the incident. Netanyahu hugged him and said, “I saw you as a majestic lion—a great hero.”
According to Hauyn's recollection, after the plane suddenly fell down, he and other passengers tried to enter the cockpit. The injured captain managed to open the cabin door before falling. Once inside, they found that the attackers were destroying the cockpit equipment.
Hayoan said that he caught the attacker and pulled him out of the cockpit, and the other passengers then subdued him. After that, he returned to the cockpit and ‘began to operate the control devices’. The aircraft gradually stabilized, and two pilots who were originally in the cabin arrived and took over the control of the aircraft.
Another passenger, Assaf Rajuan, who participated in the attack on the uniformed attackers, said at the time they didn't have enough time to think. "You just instinctively rush over, to save your daughter, your family." He was still bleeding from a fight on his forehead when he gave an interview.
The injured captain was identified as Smit Machchhar, a citizen of India. According to Netanyahu’s office, he was lying bloodied on the floor of the cockpit, but managed to press the door button, allowing passengers to enter the cockpit.
After the incident, Saudi authorities detained the involved co-pilot. Israeli officials identified him as a Omani citizen, and the motive for the attack is still under investigation. Dubai Airways also issued a statement saying that the root cause of the incident has not yet been determined, and they warned the public not to make “ premature guesses.” The UAE civil aviation authorities stated that a “safety incident” occurred on the flight, and that it has been brought under control.
Netanyahu has announced that Israel will strengthen security checks for pilots flying to Israel. A spokesman said that in the future, Israel will be able to verify the identity of pilots flying to Israel and conduct corresponding security checks.
