Netanyahu Praises Passenger and Pilot Who Stopped FlyDubai Cockpit Attack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited passenger Yaniv Chayon and wounded Capt. Smit Machchhar for stopping a rogue co-pilot who allegedly tried to crash a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 100 people aboard, preventing a disaster of what he called unbelievable proportions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the passenger and pilot who acted with incredible heroism to stop a rogue co-pilot during a bloody cockpit attack on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, saying they prevented a disaster of unbelievable proportions. Netanyahu recounted the event during an exclusive interview with Sean Hannity for the July 30 episode of Hannitys podcast. He said the incident could have become another 9/11 and credited passenger Yaniv Chayon, who broke into the cockpit and subdued the attacker, along with the wounded captain who unlocked the door. According to Netanyahu, the suspect stabbed another pilot and apparently attempted to crash the plane with more than 100 people onboard, an incident authorities describe as a suspected hijacking.Captain Smit Machchhar Fights for LifeThe wounded captain unlocked the cockpit door, letting in passengers who worked together to subdue the attacker and stabilize the nosediving aircraft. The pilot of Flight 1073 has been identified as Capt. Smit Machchhar. Netanyahu says he is fighting for his life after sustaining severe injuries.The prime minister met with Chayon earlier on Wednesday, lauding his courage and praising him for taking control of the plane under impossible circumstances. I met with this Israeli, this unbelievable Israeli. His name is Yaniv, who did this thing, Netanyahu explained. And I asked him, How did you do it?And he said, Well, I just had to do it. I dont know the exact background of this person, the attacker, but he obviously hated Israelis because he was going to kill about 170 of them on this plane, killing himself, too, the prime minister said. That is fanaticism and hatred of an incalculable level. Apparently, he stabbed him or he hit him with an ax.He was bleeding profusely. The plane began to go out of control and began a nosedive, Netanyahu said. The pilot who was there was an Indian pilot with sort of a very badly wounded. He is fighting, I think, for his life right now, but in an act of unbelievable courage, he managed to unlock the door to the cockpit.Suspect Arrested After Emergency LandingNetanyahu said the alleged attacker was arrested after the plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. An Israeli official identified the co-pilot as an Omani national. FlyDubai cautioned that the suspects motive remains unknown and declared that all flights in and out of Israel will be suspended while the investigation is carried out. Israeli officials say investigators are working to examine the co-pilots motive and whether he acted alone.Israeli passenger Haim Lazarovich, who experienced the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. Netanyahu also referenced the heroism of the passenger and pilot, saying, Just think about it. If you are next hijacked, make sure an Israeli is sitting next to you. He said the pair stopped the world from a disaster of unbelievable proportions.