President Isaac Herzog said Thursday that he intends to recommend four Israelis who helped prevent a disaster aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel for the President’s Medal for Civilian Heroism.
Herzog spoke with Yaniv Hayoun, Dr. Shota Musayev, Tzvika Mans, and Asaf Rejwan, who took part in the response to the violent incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday.
After one of the pilots stabbed the other and the aircraft began losing altitude, the passengers and crew acted to regain control of the plane.
Indian Capt. Smit Machchhar fought the attacker and opened the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene. Tali Mans alerted those around her that something was wrong, after which Hayoun, Mans, and Rejwan rushed to help, entered the cockpit, and subdued the attacker while putting their own lives at risk.
Hayoun then helped stabilize the aircraft’s controls, according to the account provided by the President’s Residence.
After the attacker was neutralized, Musayev provided emergency medical treatment to the badly wounded captain and helped stabilize his condition until the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Machchhar’s actions while wounded were also credited with enabling passengers to reach the cockpit and intervene. Reports on Machchhar’s actions after he was stabbed said he managed to unlock the cockpit before losing consciousness.
Herzog told the four Israelis that he intended to present their actions to the advisory committee for the President’s Medal for Civilian Heroism and recommend the award.
“At a moment when the lives of so many people were in danger, you acted without hesitation, with courage, resourcefulness and extraordinary mutual responsibility,” Herzog told them. “You risked yourselves to save others and prevented a major disaster. The entire world saw the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society. I am proud of you and thank you on behalf of the State of Israel.
“I intend to bring the story of your heroism before the advisory committee for the President’s Medal for Civilian Heroism and recommend that it award you the medal. In addition, I extend my deep thanks and appreciation, on behalf of the State of Israel, to the Indian pilot, Capt. Smit Machchhar, whose determination and actions made it possible to neutralize the attacker and saved many lives.”
‘We were all heroes’
Musayev described the moments aboard the aircraft during his conversation with Herzog.
“It was a very difficult incident, and we really survived,” he said. “It wasn’t only my heroism. Everyone who was there and approached the cockpit area was part of it. We were all heroes. All the passengers were heroes.
“We supported one another on the plane and also when we reached Saudi Arabia, and we took care of one another as we should. It shows our strength as a people.”
In his conversation with Tzvika Mans, Herzog also asked to convey his thanks to Mans’s wife, Tali, for alerting those around her to the developing emergency. Mans responded emotionally and thanked the president.
Hayoun, who was among the passengers who rushed toward the cockpit as the aircraft plunged, also thanked Herzog.
“Everyone was very emotional and welcomed me with great excitement,” Hayoun said. “I’m glad we’re here, glad it’s all behind us, and very grateful for the call and the embrace. It’s really moving.”
Rejwan told Herzog that the passengers had initially felt powerless as the emergency unfolded.
“It was an extraordinary incident,” he said. “We felt helpless, suspended in the air, and I didn’t know who to turn to. But everything came from instinct, to survive, to save the family, the people and the children.”
President’s Medal established following October 7 massacre
The President’s Medal for Civilian Heroism was established by Herzog during the war to honor civilians who displayed extraordinary courage while placing their lives in genuine danger to save others.
The award, described as Israel’s highest civilian valor honor, is conferred following examination of candidates and a recommendation from an advisory committee appointed by the president.
Herzog established the civilian heroism award following the October 7 massacre, after numerous accounts emerged of civilians risking their lives to rescue others during the Hamas-led attack and the war that followed.
The medal has since been awarded to Israelis recognized for exceptional acts of courage, including civilians whose actions during the October 7 attacks in the Gaza border communities saved lives.
Herzog’s recommendation for Hayoun, Musayev, Mans, and Rejwan will now go before the advisory committee before any formal award is granted.
