'I pulled the controls': Passenger tells Israeli PM how he helped stop attacker
A passenger on a Flydubai flight helped prevent a potential disaster by pinning down an attacker and assisting in stabilizing the aircraft after a sudden 17,000ft drop. The passenger was later recognized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon the plane's safe landing in Tel Aviv.
Why it matters
Highlights a rare, high-stakes aviation security incident and the role of civilian intervention in preventing a catastrophic crash.
'I pulled the controls': Passenger tells Israeli PM how he helped stop attacker Close A passenger on the diverted Flydubai flight has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu how he and others helped stop the cockpit attack.
The man, who was greeted by the prime minister at the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, explained how he helped pin the alleged attacker to the ground and pull the plane's controls backwards to stop it nosediving.
The plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia after plummeting 17,000ft in less than two minutes.
Passengers have since safely landed in Tel Aviv after a replacement Flydubai plane transported them to their destination.
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