Yaniv Hayun (2nd L), one of the men who helped incapacitate an attacker on a FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel, holds an Israeli flag after arriving at the Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sept. 30, 2026. Ammar Awad/Reuters
An Israeli passenger who assisted in taking down a co-pilot after he allegedly stabbed the aircraft’s captain said watching “Air Crash Investigation” helped him know how to stabilize the diving FlyDubai jet.
Yaniv Hayun, a 50-year-old Israeli sewage pumping company owner, said he rushed into the cockpit, put the attacker in a chokehold and pulled him out.
After helping others subdue the co-pilot, Hayun said he returned to the controls and pulled the plane out of its dive.
Hayun was traveling with his wife and two daughters.
Another pilot aboard took over, and a second crew landed the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia.
When asked how he knew what to do to stabilize the diving plane, Hayun said: “I watch Air Crash Investigation.”
The program is a TV show that reenacts air disasters using actors and reports. The show debuted in 2003 and has produced 25 seasons.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it an attempted terrorist attack and said the passengers “managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster. Because that is what it looks like was happening.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday he was nominating Hayun and four other passengers for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for their roles in stopping the attack.
Netanyahu met with Hayun at Ben-Gurion International Airport.
“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,” Hayun told Netanyahu, in a video of their meeting distributed by Netanyahu’s office.
“You’re a true hero. We’re a nation of lions!” Netanyahu told Hayun.
In the video, Hayun’s shirt is still covered in blood.
Hayun explained the chaos as the attack unfolded.
“We knew there was an attack because a woman screamed ’stabbing' and the plane shook,” Hayun said. “At that moment I ran to the cockpit, and the plane dived.”
According to Netanyahu’s account, passengers subdued the co-pilot who had stabbed the pilot and tied him up with headphone cables.
The alleged attacker was saying, “Kill me,” something the passengers interpreted to mean the co-pilot had failed at his mission and preferred to die.
Netanyahu also met at his office with Hayun, Or Pardilov, Shota Musayev and his wife Sigalit, who were credited with helping save the lives of the more than 170 people on board.
Asaf Rajuan was a fifth passenger nominated for the civilian heroism award.
“The entire world sees the Israeli heroism. You will light a torch of civic heroism on Independence Day,” Netanyahu said in a post on X.
“I urge the citizens of Israel to learn from you, to keep their eyes open and be vigilant. We are in a very sensitive time. There is an intent of our enemies to harm us.”
Netanyahu also gave a plug on X for Hayun’s plumbing business.
“Yaniv Hayun is a hero who saved many lives. He can help you too; I highly recommend!”
Reuters contributed to this story.
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