"Pulled the Joystick Just Like on TV": The Miraculous 30 Seconds That Saved 174 Lives

Passengers and Crew Subdue Attacker After Entering Cockpit
Emergency Landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia
Israel Investigates Possibility of Terrorism
Airline Says "Motive Still Unknown"

A dramatic incident occurred in the cockpit of a passenger aircraft bound for Israel, where one pilot attacked a fellow pilot with a sharp object, causing the plane to enter a rapid descent. It was reported that passengers rushed into the cockpit, subdued the attacker, and prevented a crash. Notably, one passenger testified that he remembered a scene from a TV show about plane accidents and took control of the joystick himself.

Passenger Yaniv Hayun who directly grabbed the control stick and pulled it backward to avoid the accident. Photo by AP Yonhap News

On October 1, Yonhap News, citing foreign media including the Associated Press, Reuters, and CBS, reported that on the previous day, an incident involving a sharp object between pilots occurred on Flydubai flight FZ1073 traveling from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to Tel Aviv, Israel. According to Israeli authorities, there were a total of 174 people on board the aircraft at the time. The aircraft was identified as a Boeing 737 Max 8.

During the incident, the first officer attacked the captain with a sharp object, causing the aircraft to suddenly enter a steep descent. Reuters reported that the plane dropped about 14,000 feet (approximately 4,260 meters) in less than 30 seconds. The Associated Press, analyzing flight tracking data, also found that the passenger aircraft lost altitude from around 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in just about one minute.

The inside of the cabin became chaos in an instant. Passenger Yaniv Hayun, after hearing screams, headed to the cockpit along with other passengers. Opening the cockpit door was not easy, as the captain, who had been stabbed, was collapsed behind the door. Hayun explained that when he finally managed to enter the cockpit, there was no one actively controlling the plane.

According to Israeli authorities, there were a total of 174 people on board the aircraft at the time. The aircraft was identified as a Boeing 737 Max 8. Photo by AP Yonhap News

After helping to pull the attacker out of the cockpit with other passengers, Hayun re-entered the cockpit. The aircraft was still losing altitude rapidly. He took control of the joystick himself and pulled it backward. In an interview with local media after returning, Hayun responded to the question of how he knew to pull the joystick back by saying he had seen it on a documentary program about air accidents. Afterward, other Flydubai flight crew members on board took over control. The program Hayun referred to is known as "Mayday," a documentary series reconstructing real-life aviation accidents based on black box data, air traffic control communications, and investigation reports. In Korea, it is well known under the titles "Aviation Accident Investigation Team" or "Air Crash Investigation."

Several passengers worked together to subdue the attacker. Dentist Shota Musayev, who was on board, testified that the captain was suffering from severe bleeding when he ran to the cockpit. He performed first aid to stop the bleeding and stabilize the captain's blood pressure. Other passengers reportedly used wired headphones and similar items to restrain the attacker's arms and legs to prevent further movement. Passenger Asaf Razon was also among those who helped subdue the attacker. After the incident, he told Reuters, "It was an act without time to think," saying he moved instinctively to save the lives of his family and other passengers.

The aircraft then changed course and made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in northwest Saudi Arabia. According to the Associated Press, most of the aircraft's rudder was damaged during the extreme rapid descent. AP Yonhap News

The aircraft then turned toward Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia and made an emergency landing. According to the Associated Press, most of the aircraft's rudder was reported to have been damaged during the extreme rapid descent. Aviation experts noted that it was unusual for the plane not to crash, given the rate of descent and the extent of damage. The wounded captain, Sumit Mahachar, an Indian national, was transferred to a local hospital for treatment. Saudi authorities have arrested the first officer, suspected of being the attacker, and are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

The Israeli government is treating this incident as a serious security threat. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz immediately labeled it an "attempted jihadist terrorist attack." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said in an initial statement that it appeared the attacker had tried to crash the plane, praising the response of the passengers.

However, it has not yet been confirmed whether the motive behind the incident was in fact terrorism.

Prime Minister Netanyahu later said in an interview with CBS, "I don't think it was a hijacking," suggesting that the attacker's actions appeared to be a suicide attempt. Regarding the possibility that the crime was committed due to terrorism or mental health problems, he added, "We don't know yet," stressing the need for further investigation. Flydubai also stated, "The fundamental reasons and motives for the incident are currently under official investigation," and cautioned against premature speculation. Following the incident, the airline temporarily suspended flights between Israel and other destinations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.