On 30/9, Yaniv Hayun, his wife, and two daughters were aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, carrying 174 people, traveling from the UAE to Israel.

The plumber and wastewater treatment company owner was in the cabin when he heard shouts of "stabbing," as the plane shook violently. According to Israeli officials, the incident began when the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a weapon inside the cockpit. The Boeing immediately lost over 4,200 meters of altitude in less than 30 seconds.

"At that moment, I ran towards the cockpit and saw the plane plummeting," Hayun recounted.

Passenger Yaniv Hayun returns to Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel after the Flydubai flight incident. Photo: Reuters

Despite his injuries, Captain Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door before collapsing. This allowed Hayun and some other passengers to rush in. They saw one pilot on the floor and another struggling near the controls. Hayun and one passenger immediately subdued the co-pilot, pulling him from the pilot's seat. Passengers behind them quickly used airplane headphone cords to tie the assailant.

Hayun then returned to the control panel. Before him were two unattended yokes, while the plane continued its rapid descent.

Although he had never flown a plane, the plumber calmly recalled maneuvers he had seen in a television program that reconstructed and analyzed aviation accidents. "I grabbed the control column and pulled it back, helping the plane regain balance," he stated.

Immediately after, two off-duty pilots, who happened to be on the flight, stepped in to take control of the system.

The plane was then diverted to Tabuk Airport, Saudi Arabia, and landed safely.

Hayun believes one of the key factors preventing the disaster was the injured captain's ability to open the cockpit door, allowing outsiders to intervene. "I want to thank him for letting us into the cockpit; otherwise, we would all be dead," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets Yaniv Hayun on 30/9. Photo: ABC News

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, Hayun was still wearing his blood-stained shirt when he met Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Prime Minister embraced him and called him a "hero."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog later announced he would propose awarding the President's Award for Civilian Courage to Hayun and others involved in the plane's rescue.

Nevertheless, the 50-year-old man simply wished to return to his normal routine.

"After the incident, I've had trouble sleeping. Now I just want to go back to work, back to my truck," Hayun said.

Nhat Minh (According to ynetnews, abcnews)