Passenger Rushes Cockpit to Stop Potential 9/11-Style Attack
Passenger Yaniv Hayoun recounts his heroic actions aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 to thwart a terrorist attack.
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A dramatic incident unfolded aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 when passenger Yaniv Hayoun, along with other passengers, acted swiftly to prevent a potential 9/11-style attack. According to a recent interview, Hayoun, seated with his wife and daughters in Row 11, heard a woman yelling about a stabbing at the front of the plane. The plane then turned sharply and began shaking, prompting Hayoun to realize the situation was unfolding in the cockpit.
Rushing to the Cockpit
Hayoun yelled at other passengers to ‘buckle up’ and rushed toward the cockpit. As the plane nosedived, he was thrown around, losing altitude by 40% in just 30 seconds. After regaining his footing, he reached the cockpit, where a man resembling a crew member had his hands on the door. Hayoun moved him away and opened the door, finding the pilot lying down on the floor behind it.
Confronting the Terrorist
Inside, Hayoun encountered a terrorist crouched with his knees on the instrument panel, attempting to break the equipment. He called for help from other Israelis and managed to pull the terrorist away from the controls. Despite the terrorist’s resistance, Hayoun was able to get him out of the cockpit, where other passengers took over and subdued him.
Steering the Plane to Safety
Returning to the controls, Hayoun noticed the plane was still angled downward and saw the ground through the windshield. He grabbed the yoke and pulled upward, bringing up the nose of the aircraft. Another man, not Israeli, entered and claimed to be a pilot, asking Hayoun to release the controls. Hayoun remained cautious but eventually handed over control as the pilot communicated with ground control for assistance.
Ensuring a Safe Landing
Hayoun stayed in the cockpit with the replacement pilot and another crew member to ensure the plane landed safely. He expressed concerns about the pilot’s trustworthiness but was focused on subduing the terrorist. Other Israelis on the plane guarded the remaining flight crew until they were safely on the ground, fearing some might have been complicit.
Despite the harrowing experience, Hayoun expressed no hesitation about flying again, calling the situation a ‘winning the lottery’ moment. He emphasized the low probability of such an event occurring again, underscoring the heroism of his actions in averting a potential disaster.
Source: Daily Wire
