Screen shots recorded by a passenger in ZH9648 show how the flight attendants reacted during the arson attack in the flight. (Photo/CNTV)

"Please remain seated, don't worry! Sit down!" "Trust us! Please trust us! We can handle the situation, don't worry!" shouted the two flight attendants in the flight ZH9648 during an arson attack in the air.

A man was subdued by the crew and fellow passengers after trying to light a fire on the flight from Taizhou, as it was landing in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in southern Guangdong Province on July 26.

Mr. Zheng, a passenger in the flight, recalled that a man with a knife had lit a curtain and newspapers in the first-class cabin. The fire filled the cabin with heavy smoke. The flight attendants kept reminding passengers to stay calm and called to protect children and women's safety in priority. They asked women and children to walk to the tail of the plane and called male passenger to stand up and stop the arsonist with baggages.

A reward of about $48,000 was given to the flight crew for their brave and calm behaviors in handling the arson attack by the Chinese Civil Aviation Authority. Two passengers in the flight also received a reward of $4,800 respectively.

The incident has prompted questions on how the arsonist managed to bring a knife, lighter and gasoline onto the plane.

Two officials of Taizhou airport have been sacked and the Taizhou airport has suspended operations from Wednesday morning, because the airport is found to have "severe safety risks".