A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday was the scene of a violent hijacking attempt that was ultimately thwarted by several passengers and crew, preventing a potential disaster. The incident unfolded roughly an hour before the plane’s scheduled landing when a woman’s screams alerted passengers to a struggle in the cockpit.

Yaniv Hayoun, an Israeli truck driver seated in 11D, recalled hearing shouts of “He’s stabbing him!” and witnessing the aircraft suddenly enter a steep, nearly vertical nose dive. The plane reportedly lost about 14,000 to 15,000 feet of altitude in less than a minute. Responding instinctively, Hayoun ran toward the cockpit where he found the pilot, Smit Machchhar, seriously injured but conscious on the floor near the unlocked door.

The assailant, alleged to be the co-pilot, was kneeling over the controls, reportedly stabbing the pilot and attempting to take control of the aircraft. Hayoun intervened directly, grabbing the hijacker by the throat and calling for assistance. Other passengers quickly joined to restrain the attacker, using headphone cords and luggage straps to bind him.

Hayoun, who has no formal flying experience, said he was able to briefly pull the controls backward to counter the downward trajectory and help stabilize the plane, a move he credits to watching the television series Air Crash Investigation. His action created critical seconds that allowed an off-duty pilot onboard to retake control. Hayoun and others then guarded the cockpit entrance to prevent further interference.

Throughout the hour-long emergency, passengers and crew tended to the wounded pilot, who sustained multiple serious knife wounds, including a severe arm injury and a deep head wound. Among those assisting was an Israeli doctor who, along with other passengers including dentist Shota Musaev, worked to stop the bleeding and keep the pilot conscious.

Passengers described a chaotic and terrifying scene as the plane plunged and systems, including lighting, failed temporarily. Tzvika Manes, another passenger who helped subdue the hijacker, said he witnessed people falling and shouting during the dive. After securing his own family, Manes went to help respond to the crisis, likening the incident to a “9/11 with a happy ending.”

The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, where the injured pilot and passengers received medical attention. Authorities continue to investigate the motives behind the alleged hijacking and the identity of the attacker. The swift and courageous response of Hayoun and fellow passengers has been widely praised for averting what could have been a catastrophic event.