How a Real-Life Aviation Drama Sent an Old TV Show Straight to the Top in Israel
A dramatic aviation incident has driven thousands of Israelis to binge the documentary series Mayday after a passenger credited the show with helping stabilize an attacked plane.
A dramatic in-flight incident involving a Flydubai flight has unexpectedly sparked a massive television trend in Israel. After passenger Yaniv Chayon revealed that he managed to help stabilize a targeted aircraft thanks to the documentary series "Mayday", thousands of Israeli viewers rushed to watch it, propelling the show to the top of viewing charts.
Television networks quickly capitalized on the public interest. Last Thursday afternoon, the satellite provider yes added the series to its VOD service under a cheeky promotional banner referencing the heroic passenger, making all episodes of the season immediately available.
The response from subscribers was swift. According to yes data, the aviation documentary racked up thousands of views within the first day alone, securing a spot among the company's ten most-watched series. While historically broadcast on National Geographic, the show is also currently available on HOT VOD and Disney Plus.
For years, "Mayday" has captivated audiences since its Israeli premiere in 2004. Reconstructing real-life aviation disasters and critical incidents using official reports, cockpit voice recordings, expert testimonies, and advanced CGI simulations, the show offers a gripping look at emergency cockpit decision-making—proving that television knowledge can sometimes save lives.
