Passenger Credits ‘Mayday’ Show for Helping Stabilize FlyDubai Plane

Passenger claims 'Mayday' show helped stabilize FlyDubai plane. Executive producer reacts to real-life impact.

October 2, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — City, Country — A passenger on a troubled FlyDubai flight credited the television series ‘Mayday’ with helping him assist in stabilizing the aircraft during a crisis.

The incident occurred when the co-pilot of Flight 1073 stabbed the captain during a two-hour journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The captain, an Indian national, managed to subdue the attacker and unlock the cockpit door before passengers and crew intervened.

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One of those passengers, Yaniv Hayun, told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he relied on what he learned from the show, which is also known as ‘Air Crash Investigation.’ After helping restrain the co-pilot, Hayun said he took control of the plane’s controls, leading to a successful emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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