Who is Nina Manes? Six-year-old hailed for role in averting disaster on Flydubai flight

Six-year-old Nina Manes and her mother, Tali, reportedly heard a commotion outside the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Who is Nina Manes? Flydubai flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 passengers when an Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the Indian captain, Capt. According to the account of the incident, Nina had asked her mother to take her to the forward restroom. While standing outside, the two heard a commotion and screams coming from inside the cockpit. The severely injured captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing a group of passengers to enter, overpower the co-pilot and restrain him. About the AuthorAnjali ThakurAnjali Thakur is a Senior Assistant Editor with Mint, reporting on trending news, entertainment and health, with a focus on stories driving digital conversations. Her work involves spotting early signals across news cycles and social media, sharpening stories for SEO and Google Discover, and mentoring young editors in digital-first newsroom practices. She is known for turning fast-moving developments—whether news-driven or culture-led—into clear, tightly edited journalism without compromising editorial rigour. com, where she led the Trending section and covered viral news, breaking developments and human-interest stories. com (Zee Media) and as Senior Correspondent with Exchange4media and Hindustan Times’ HT City, reporting on media, advertising, entertainment, health, lifestyle and popular culture. Anjali holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miranda House, and is currently pursuing an MBA, strengthening her understanding of business strategy and digital media economics. Her writing balances newsroom discipline with a clear instinct for what resonates with readers.