Netanyahu Meets 'Lion-Man' Passenger Who Helped Stop Flydubai Cockpit Attack | Video

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday met the passenger who helped stop an apparent attack aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv.

The passenger, identified as Yaniv, was among those who entered the cockpit and helped subdue the pilot. Another Flydubai crew member later took control, allowing the aircraft to land safely in Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu praised him for his actions and called him a “lion-man”.

A video released by Netanyahu’s office showed the Prime Minister meeting Yaniv and his family at Ben Gurion Airport and embracing him. Netanyahu described Yaniv as one of the passengers who managed to enter the aircraft’s cockpit during the incident.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu met at Ben Gurion Airport with Yaniu, the man who,

during a Flydubai flight to Israel, entered the cockpit and subdued the attacking pilot. The Prime Minister, addressing him as a “lion-man,” expressed appreciation for his bravery and heroic action,” Netanyahu shared on X.

نخست‌وزیر نتانیاهو در فرودگاه بن‌گوریون با یانیو، مردی که در جریان پرواز فلای‌دبی به اسرائیل وارد کابین خلبان شد و خلبان مهاجم را مهار کرد، دیدار کرد.

نخست‌وزیر با خطاب قرار دادن او به‌ عنوان یک «شیرمرد» از شجاعت و اقدام قهرمانانه‌اش قدردانی کرد. pic.twitter.com/UWqyam9AzG

— اسرائیل به فارسی (@IsraelPersian) September 30, 2026

About the incident

According to Netanyahu and passengers on the flight, one of the pilots allegedly stabbed the other and then tried to bring the aircraft down. Passengers intervened as the plane began a sharp descent.

The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 166 Israelis, according to Israeli media reports. Flydubai said all passengers were safe but said the reasons behind the incident were not yet known.

The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where both pilots were taken to hospital with injuries.

In a video message, Netanyahu said he had spoken to the Israeli passenger who entered the cockpit and fought the pilot who was allegedly trying to crash the plane.

“I salute these heroes,” Netanyahu said, adding that they had prevented a major disaster.

Saudi authorities are questioning the pilot accused of attacking his colleague. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the incident as an attempted terror attack, but no motive has been officially established.

(With inputs from agencies