FlyDubai incident: Israeli plumber says TV show taught him how to stabilise plane; where to watch the show on OTT?

A documentary saved the FlyDubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv from crashing after the alleged fight in the cockpit. A hero passenger who was able to pull up the steering control and landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia with help.

FlyDubai incident involving a Dubai to Tel Aviv flight continues to be in the news as investigation is currently underway. As Indian Captain Smit Machchhar it is being praised by global leaders and Indian across the country, a few passengers who stepped in to take control of the flight after the alleged attack have also gained attention.

Meet hero passenger

A passenger, identified as Yaniv Hayun, 50, is being praised as a hero. He and three other Israeli passengers managed to subdue the co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the Captain in a reported attempt to crash the flight. The FlyDubai flight FZ1073 was carrying more than 170 people on Wednesday when the incident took place.

The confrontation in the cockpit triggered a steep descent, causing the aircraft to drop about 16,000 feet within two minutes before transmission of a hijacking distress signal.

Quick answers to key questions

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QUESTIONS

The incident occurred when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar in an attempt to crash the FlyDubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, leading to chaos in the cockpit.

Yaniv Hayun learned to stabilize a nose-diving aircraft from the TV show 'Air Crash Investigation', which enabled him to pull up the steering control and safely land the plane in Saudi Arabia.

Yaniv Hayun credited 'Air Crash Investigation' for teaching him how to stabilize the aircraft during the crisis, highlighting its educational value regarding real aviation emergencies.

Captain Smit Machchhar is regarded as a hero for his bravery in attempting to maintain control of the flight despite being gravely injured, which ultimately helped avert a catastrophic disaster.

'Air Crash Investigation' is available for streaming in India on JioHotstar, where you can access multiple seasons of this informative series.

How was the flight stabilised

After the incident, Hayun said that he knew how to stabilise a nose-diving aircraft. He added that he learnt it from an aircrash TV show, as reported by Reuters.

He reportedly managed to pull up the steering control and landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia with the help of a second air crew aboard.

According to Reuters, Hayun was travelling with his wife and two daughters. He owns a sewage pumping company, added the news agency.

After arriving from Saudi Arabia at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, Hayun opened up about what happened on the fateful flight.

"We knew there was an attack because a woman screamed 'stabbing' and the plane shook," he said, adding, "At that moment I ran to the cockpit, and the plane dived."

He met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and shared a hug. He said that the stabbed Indian pilot managed to open the cockpit door before collapsing.

"One (pilot) was down and one was on the controls, and another person came in with me, I grabbed the assailant and put him in a chokehold, and pulled him out," he told Netanyahu as seen in a video shared by the PM's office.

Which TV show saved FlyDubai crash

When asked how he knew what to do in the moments before another pilot aboard, Hayun said, "I watch Air Crash Investigation."

Air Crash Investigation or Mayday is a documentaryTV series, focusing on real aviation accidents using real-life interviews, cockpit data, eyewitnesses, expert opinion and investigation findings.

The Canadian documentary first premiered in 2003. The title of the show varies depending on region.

Where to watch Air Crash Investigation

In India, multiple seasons of Air Crash Investigation are available on JioHotstar.

About the Author

Sneha Biswas specialises in covering entertainment and pop culture, with a specialisation on Bollywood, Hollywood, OTT platforms, K-pop, K-dramas, and major developments in the US entertainment industry. She believes in telling stories that balance speed with substance, and in making entertainment journalism contextual, culturally aware, and reader-first rather than purely reactive.<br><br> With over six years of experience in digital media, Sneha currently serves as a Deputy Chief Content Producer at Live Mint. She has spent more than three and a half years with the HT Group and returned to the organisation in February 2025, joining Live Mint to uplift the entertainment section. Over the past year, she has been closely involved in entertainment coverage including breaking news, explainers, trend reporting, box office reports and analysis for the audience.<br><br> Sneha is Google News certified, having completed training focused on newsroom best practices, digital reporting, and SEO-driven content strategies. Her work reflects a strong understanding of audience behaviour, search trends, and the evolving consumption patterns of entertainment news across formats.<br><br> Prior to her current role, Sneha has worked across multiple content and editorial functions within digital newsrooms, building expertise in content planning, editing, and real-time coverage. Her professional interests lie at the intersection of entertainment, internet culture, and global pop trends.<br><br> Working for the National city team, Biswas closely follows global entertainment movements while maintaining a strong pulse on what is happening in India.

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