Arkia Flight Passenger Subdued After Attempting to Breach Cockpit Door

A flight from Tbilisi to Ben Gurion Airport experienced high drama on Sunday when a passenger suffered a psychotic episode, rushed the cockpit door, and attempted to break inside while shouting that the aircraft lacked pilots and engines. The incident occurred aboard Arkia Israeli Airlines flight IZ418, which departed Tbilisi at 2:00 PM following a delay.

Roughly an hour into the flight, the passenger in his twenties, who was traveling with his parents, suddenly bolted toward the front of the aircraft. He began violently pounding on the reinforced cockpit door, shouting incoherently that the plane needed to be saved and that there were no pilots or engines on board. Flight attendants and the young man's parents initially attempted to subdue him, but failed to control his frantic movements.

Several passengers rushed to assist, struggling to restrain the agitated individual. Maxim Bivitsky, a former deputy mayor of Rishon LeZion who was on board, ultimately managed to overpower the passenger. With the assistance of the flight crew, Bivitsky dragged the man to the rear seats, where family members helped calm him down for the remainder of the flight.

Aviation authorities reported that the captain immediately notified Israeli air traffic control regarding the disturbance. Upon landing at Ben Gurion Airport, Ben Gurion Airport police units met the aircraft and questioned the passenger. An Arkia representative confirmed the incident, stating it stemmed from a medical psychotic episode. Arkia issued a formal statement emphasizing that flight safety was never compromised at any point during the flight and that appropriate authorities were notified according to standard protocol.