A Dentist And A Plumber: Who Saved That Flight To Tel Aviv?
- 1.10.2026, 15:15
A true Hollywood story.
A FlyDubai plane, flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, nearly crashed on September 30 after the co-pilot attacked the captain right in the cockpit. The tragedy was averted thanks to the actions of the people on board: together, they managed to subdue the attacker and land the plane, according to "Meduza".
Despite his injury, Captain Smith Machhar was able to let the passengers into the cockpit
The captain was primarily responsible for averting the disaster. He turned out to be a 39-year-old Indian citizen Smith Machchar. The co-pilot stabbed him, including in the head and arms, but Machchar managed to open the cockpit door—and the passengers were able to get inside and subdue the attacker.
Machchar is currently in the hospital. According to Reuters, he has been working in aviation for about 15 years and joined FlyDubai in 2022. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already praised Machchar’s bravery: “In the face of the gravest danger and despite serious injuries, he showed tremendous courage and unwavering determination to protect the lives of others.”
Plumber Yaniv Hayun stabilized the plane
When the cockpit door opened, passenger Yaniv Hayun was one of the first to enter. According to him, the injured captain was lying near the door, while the co-pilot was at the control panel, pounding on it. Hayun pulled him out of the cockpit and called on other passengers for help; he then sat down at the controls and pulled the yoke toward him to pull the plane out of its nosedive.
The Guardian and U.S. President Donald Trump report that Hayun, an Israeli, is a plumber by profession. He himself said in an interview that he knew the procedure thanks to the TV series “Air Crash Investigation.”
Two passengers—professional pilots—landed the plane
Once the plane was stabilized, professional pilots took control—two FlyDubai pilots were among the passengers on the flight. They landed the plane in Saudi Arabia. It is not known exactly who took control of the aircraft. The publication Israel Hayom claimed that they were a Russian citizen and a Ukrainian citizen, but this version has not yet been confirmed. According to other reports, one of the pilots who landed the plane was a citizen of Fiji. The only thing that is known for certain is that they also work for FlyDubai.
Dentist Shota Musaev assisted the captain
The only medical professional on board was an Israeli dentist, Shota Musaev. He administered first aid to the captain, which, in his opinion, may have saved Machhara’s life. “When I entered the cockpit, the pilot was in very poor condition; he was bleeding heavily from the head,” Musaev said.
Passengers Assaf Rajvan and Zvika Manes subdued the attacker
The passengers held the co-pilot for 55 minutes to prevent him from returning to the cockpit. Assaf Rajvan, one of those who helped subdue the attacker, said he himself sustained a minor injury. Another passenger, Zvika Manes, reported that they struggled with the co-pilot for about 20 minutes, eventually tying him up with a pair of wired headphones.
Manes said he was flying on that flight with his daughters. When the plane suddenly began to descend, they were very frightened and screamed that they didn’t want to die. “It’s very traumatic for any father to hear something like that,” he said.
What don’t we know yet?
The co-pilot’s identity has not been disclosed. All that is known is that he is a citizen of Oman. He is currently being questioned by Saudi Arabian authorities. Israel also intends to question the suspect, according to the country’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
It is unknown why he carried out the attack. Israeli authorities are considering the possibility that the co-pilot planned not merely to crash the plane, but to carry out a terrorist attack similar to the September 11 attacks by flying the aircraft into one of Tel Aviv’s skyscrapers, sources told The Telegraph. According to the publication, investigators are treating this theory as the leading one. Netanyahu stated that Israel intends to determine whether the attacker had any accomplices. When asked whether Iran could have been involved, Netanyahu said it was “too early to say.”
It is unclear what type of weapon was used in the attack. At the airport, the crew undergoes a rigorous security screening before departure, including passing through metal detectors. Netanyahu speculated that the attacker may have used an emergency axe, which is kept in the cockpit in case of emergencies.