Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced his intention to recommend four passengers of a flydubai flight for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism after their decisive actions helped avert a potential disaster. The flight, traveling from Dubai to Israel, faced an emergency situation in which one pilot attacked the other, leading to an onboard confrontation.
The passengers, identified as Yaniv Hayoun, Dr. Shota Musayev, Zvika Manes, and Asaf Rajuan, played critical roles during the incident. Hayoun, Manes, and Rajuan managed to subdue the attacking pilot, while Hayoun also assisted with the aircraft’s controls. Dr. Musayev provided immediate medical assistance to the injured pilot, ensuring that he received care until the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
President Herzog praised the passengers for their bravery and quick response, which he credited with safeguarding the lives of everyone on board. He also expressed his gratitude to the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, for his leadership during the emergency.
Herzog plans to present the actions of the four passengers to the advisory committee responsible for selecting recipients of the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism. This award recognizes individuals who display extraordinary courage in life-threatening situations, and Herzog believes that the passengers’ conduct during the incident exemplifies such heroism.