During a flight from Israel to England, a disruptive individual shouting “Allahu Akbar” attempted to open a door mid-flight. However, a courageous passenger intervened to subdue the unruly individual. Victor Troboloni, an Albanian traveler en route to visit his ailing mother in London, along with fellow passengers, managed to restrain the unidentified attacker until the cabin crew secured him with zip ties.
Describing the incident, Troboloni expressed the fear he felt during the encounter, saying, “It was a very scary situation,” and he even contemplated not seeing his mother again.
The flight, W9 4452 operated by the Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air, was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Belgrade, Serbia, following the disruptive episode.
Wizz Air responded by stating, “The company is dealing with the onward flight of all customers to London,” emphasizing their commitment to passenger and crew safety. They also expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by the unexpected incident.
In the aftermath of the security breach, cellphone footage captured a fellow passenger taking action to subdue the suspect, placing him in a headlock. The attacker was heard screaming as Troboloni, aged 45, brought him to the floor. Troboloni recounted how the attacker had attempted to open the aircraft’s fire exit, posing a significant threat. He added, “I got the guy down. He was very heavyweight … I headlocked him and the stewardesses tied his hands with plastic cable ties … I had to do it.”
With the assistance of fellow passengers, Troboloni managed to keep the assailant restrained until a flight attendant located cable ties to secure him. This continued for approximately 45 minutes to an hour until the plane safely landed in Belgrade.
During the incident, the suspect repeatedly shouted “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is most great.” However, authorities could not ascertain a motive for the attack or establish any connection between the suspect and terrorist organizations.
Before physically assaulting a male crew member, the suspect exhibited erratic behavior, moving between the pilot’s cabin and the rear emergency exit. One passenger, a plane engineer, noted the suspect’s actions, expressing concern about the situation’s gravity, given the lack of escape options mid-flight.
The ordeal left passengers on edge, with one describing it as “a very scary situation.”
Source: {Matzav.com}