It's a story that's made headlines around the world - the attempt to apparently deliberately crash a plane en route to Tel Aviv with passengers and crew on board. You've certainly heard the almost unbelievable story by now.

What you may not know is how a Canadian TV show helped in the dramatic rescue. It turns out one of the passengers on that beleaguered craft had watched the Canuck-produced show "Mayday," about flight emergencies. It was that viewing that got him into the cockpit as all hell was breaking loose, helping him to partly save the day. 

"During the Flydubai emergency, passenger Yaniv Hayun entered the cockpit...With the aircraft dropping rapidly, Hayun recognised the primary flight controls —specifically the control column or yoke — from years of watching detailed flight reconstructions on "Mayday." Applying the basic mechanics depicted in the show, he pulled back on the yoke to level the aircraft out of its steep dive, holding the nose up until emergency procedures were established...

"Mayday, produced by Toronto-based Cineflix Productions and broadcast internationally on National Geographic, the investigative series uses official flight data recordings, eyewitness testimony, and CGI reconstructions to unpack historic aviation disasters."

An incredible case of how watching a favourite show led to a rescue no one will ever forget. I'm pretty sure the show will use it in a future episode. 

Mayday: All about Canadian TV show that helped Flydubai passenger save 174 lives