President Yitzchak Herzog spoke with the four Israelis who displayed extraordinary courage during the security incident aboard the Fly Dubai flight from Dubai to Israel, Yaniv Chion, Dr. Shouta Musayev, Tzvi Manes, and Asaf Rejwan, and informed them that he intends to recommend them for the "President's Medal for Civilian Courage" for their actions.
The incident began when the co-pilot stabbed the pilot, and the aircraft began losing altitude rapidly. The Indian captain, Sumit Macchahar, fought off the attacker and opened the cockpit door, while Tali Manes alerted passengers to what was happening. Chion, Manes, and Rejwan immediately rushed into the cockpit and subdued the attacker at real risk to their own lives, with Chion even stabilizing the aircraft's controls. After neutralizing the attacker, Dr. Musayev provided life-saving medical treatment to the severely wounded pilot and helped stabilize his condition until the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
President Herzog expressed deep appreciation for their resourcefulness and mutual responsibility. "In moments when the lives of so many people were in danger, you acted without hesitation, with courage, resourcefulness, and extraordinary mutual responsibility," the President said. "You risked yourselves to save others and prevented a terrible disaster. The entire world saw today the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society. I am proud of you and thank you on behalf of the State of Israel." The President added special thanks to Captain Sumit Macchahar.
The passengers shared the dramatic moments with the President. Dr. Shouta Musayev recounted: "It was a very difficult case, and we really were saved. It wasn't just my courage; everyone who was there and approached the cockpit area was part of it. We were all heroes, all the passengers were heroes. We supported each other on the plane and also when we arrived in Saudi Arabia, and we took care of each other as we should. This shows our strength as a people."
