--- title: "Trump praises passenger who helped subdue co-pilot on FlyDubai flight" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/trump-praises-passenger-who-helped-subdue-co-pilot-on-flydubai-flight" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/trump-praises-passenger-who-helped-subdue-co-pilot-on-flydubai-flight" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/trump-praises-passenger-who-helped-subdue-co-pilot-on-flydubai-flight.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/trump-praises-passenger-who-helped-subdue-co-pilot-on-flydubai-flight" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-10-03T19:45:34.861Z" source_reported: "2026-10-03T18:35:52.000Z" updated: "2026-10-03T19:45:34.861Z" trust_score: 70 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 30 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-03T21:15:18.099898+00:00" --- # Trump praises passenger who helped subdue co-pilot on FlyDubai flight *President Donald Trump posted a video on social media commending Yaniv Hayoun for his actions during an in-flight incident.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 70 of 100, higher is better. Trust 70: multiple independent reports name persons, give flight details and figures with sources. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: offers context, quotes, specific data, next steps, and clear, cohesive narrative. - Hype 30 of 100, lower is better. Hype 30: headline repeats phrase but matches article content; no excessive sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - President Donald Trump praised Israeli plumber Yaniv Hayoun as a hero in a video posted on social media. - FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 182 people aboard when the incident occurred. - According to UAE authorities, the co-pilot assaulted the captain and tried to take control of the aircraft. - The flight was diverted and landed safely in Saudi Arabia after passengers intervened. President Donald Trump praised Israeli plumber Yaniv Hayoun as a hero in a video posted on Truth Social and TikTok. Hayoun was among passengers who helped subdue a co-pilot who allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of FlyDubai Flight FZ1073. The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 182 people on board when the incident unfolded. United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have described the incident as a terrorist attack. The co-pilot allegedly assaulted Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, causing it to descend sharply. Despite his injuries, the captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene. The flight was diverted and landed safely in Saudi Arabia. ## Disagreement on attacker's identity Source 1 identifies the attacker as 29-year-old Hamam al-Hammami. Source 2 describes the attacker as an Omani pilot-terrorist. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific age of the attacker, Hamam al-Hammami, as reported by Source 1. None of the right-rated digests mention the specific age of the attacker, Hamam al-Hammami, as reported by Source 1. ## Who covered it Shares of the 12 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 8% (1) - Centre: 34% (4) - Right: 58% (7) 4 of 16 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-03T21:15:18.099898+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-03T21:45:07.128Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report led on President Trump thanking Yaniv Hayoun, an Israeli plumber, for his role in saving the Flydubai flight. It noted that Hayoun was one of the Israelis who subdued the "Omani pilot-terrorist" and was the first to stabilise the aircraft as it plunged. The report quoted Trump saying, "I’m a fan of his, a big fan. He saved that flight yesterday." ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on President Trump praising Yaniv Hayoun as a hero for his actions on FlyDubai Flight FZ1073. They highlighted Trump's comments, including "He can be my plumber" and "What a job he did. He's a hero." The reports mentioned that Hayoun was among passengers credited with helping subdue the co-pilot who allegedly attacked the captain and tried to seize control of the plane. One centre-rated report identified the attacker as 29-year-old Hamam al-Hammami. ### Right - The right-rated reports centred on President Trump's praise for Yaniv Hayoun, an Israeli plumber, calling him a "hero" for helping to save the Flydubai flight. They quoted Trump's remarks, such as "He did an amazing job. He got in there and he learned how to fly by watching air disasters on television." The reports also noted Trump's statement, "He can be my plumber." **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 5 - unknown: 4 - veryHigh: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Politics, Policy, Political News](https://politicom.com.au/israeli-plumber-who-saved-flight-fz1073-is-a-trump-supporter) — Israeli Plumber Who Saved Flight FZ1073 Is a Trump Supporter - Politics, Policy, Political Views - [Arutz Sheva](https://israelnationalnews.com/news/434029) — President Trump: 'Yaniv saved that flight yesterday, he did an amazing job' - [enikos.gr](https://enikos.gr/international/trab-apotheonei-se-vinteo-ton-israilino-pou-apetrepse-tin-tragodia-stin-ptisi-tis-flydubai-borei-na-ginei-o-ydravlikos-mou/2654216) — Trump: In a Video, He Glorifies the Israeli Who Prevented the Tragedy on the Flydubai Flight - "He Could Be My Plumber" - [JDN - חדשות](https://jdn.co.il/news/2738011) — Trump in a Special Video to Yaniv Hayon: "He Could Be My Plumber" - [kikar.co.il](https://kikar.co.il/world-news/trump-plumber-quote-yaniv-chayon-tiktok) — He Could Be My Plumber: Trump in Personal Video to Yaniv Hayon - [WIN](https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-huckabee-gifts-flydubai-hero-personal-autographed-trump-cap) — Huckabee gifts Flydubai hero personal autographed Trump cap - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6127540-trump-praises-yaniv-hayoun) — Trump thanks man who helped save Flydubai flight: ‘What a job he did, he’s a hero’ - [Komo News](https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/he-can-be-my-plumber-trump-hails-flydubai-passenger-yaniv-hayoun-as-hero-yaniv-hayoun-flydubai-attack-suspect-hamam-al-hammami-pilot-stabbed-stabbing-plane-flight-president-donald-trump) — 'He can be my plumber': Trump hails FlyDubai passenger Yaniv Hayoun as 'hero' - [WCIV](https://abcnews4.com/news/nation-world/he-can-be-my-plumber-trump-hails-flydubai-passenger-yaniv-hayoun-as-hero-yaniv-hayoun-flydubai-attack-suspect-hamam-al-hammami-pilot-stabbed-stabbing-plane-flight-president-donald-trump) — 'He can be my plumber': Trump hails FlyDubai passenger Yaniv Hayoun as 'hero' - [Fox 17](https://fox17.com/news/nation-world/he-can-be-my-plumber-trump-hails-flydubai-passenger-yaniv-hayoun-as-hero-yaniv-hayoun-flydubai-attack-suspect-hamam-al-hammami-pilot-stabbed-stabbing-plane-flight-president-donald-trump) — 'He can be my plumber': Trump hails FlyDubai passenger Yaniv Hayoun as 'hero' - [KATV](https://katv.com/news/nation-world/he-can-be-my-plumber-trump-hails-flydubai-passenger-yaniv-hayoun-as-hero-yaniv-hayoun-flydubai-attack-suspect-hamam-al-hammami-pilot-stabbed-stabbing-plane-flight-president-donald-trump) — 'He can be my plumber': Trump hails FlyDubai passenger Yaniv Hayoun as 'hero' - [KVAL](https://kval.com/news/nation-world/he-can-be-my-plumber-trump-hails-flydubai-passenger-yaniv-hayoun-as-hero-yaniv-hayoun-flydubai-attack-suspect-hamam-al-hammami-pilot-stabbed-stabbing-plane-flight-president-donald-trump) — 'He can be my plumber': Trump hails FlyDubai passenger Yaniv Hayoun as 'hero' - [KGAN](https://cbs2iowa.com/news/nation-world/he-can-be-my-plumber-trump-hails-flydubai-passenger-yaniv-hayoun-as-hero-yaniv-hayoun-flydubai-attack-suspect-hamam-al-hammami-pilot-stabbed-stabbing-plane-flight-president-donald-trump) — 'He can be my plumber': Trump hails FlyDubai passenger Yaniv Hayoun as 'hero' - [KBAK](https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/nation-world/gallery/he-can-be-my-plumber-trump-hails-flydubai-passenger-yaniv-hayoun-as-hero-yaniv-hayoun-flydubai-attack-suspect-hamam-al-hammami-pilot-stabbed-stabbing-plane-flight-president-donald-trump) — 'He can be my plumber': Trump hails FlyDubai passenger Yaniv Hayoun as 'hero' - [KUTV](https://kutv.com/news/nation-world/he-can-be-my-plumber-trump-hails-flydubai-passenger-yaniv-hayoun-as-hero-yaniv-hayoun-flydubai-attack-suspect-hamam-al-hammami-pilot-stabbed-stabbing-plane-flight-president-donald-trump) — 'He can be my plumber': Trump hails FlyDubai passenger Yaniv Hayoun as 'hero' - [Ynet News](https://ynetnews.com/article/hkgeoea5zg) — ‘I’m a fan of his’: Trump thanks Yaniv Hayun for helping save flydubai flight ## Questions **What happened on FlyDubai Flight FZ1073?** FlyDubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 182 people, experienced an incident where the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to seize control. Passengers, including Yaniv Hayoun, intervened to subdue the co-pilot, and the flight was safely diverted to Saudi Arabia. **Who is Yaniv Hayoun?** Yaniv Hayoun is an Israeli plumber who was a passenger on FlyDubai Flight FZ1073. He is credited with helping to subdue the co-pilot during an in-flight incident and was praised as a hero by President Donald Trump. **What did President Donald Trump say about the incident?** President Donald Trump posted a video praising Yaniv Hayoun as a hero. He stated that Hayoun "did an amazing job" and that "He can be my plumber. He can be whatever he wants to be." **How did authorities describe the incident?** United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have described the incident as a terrorist attack. They reported that the co-pilot assaulted the captain with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/trump-praises-passenger-who-helped-subdue-co-pilot-on-flydubai-flight. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Trump praises passenger who helped subdue co-pilot on FlyDubai flight", https://mediabias.news/conflict/trump-praises-passenger-who-helped-subdue-co-pilot-on-flydubai-flight