Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced plans to honour four Israeli passengers who helped overpower a Flydubai co-pilot during an in-flight attack and prevented what officials described as a potential disaster.
Herzog said the four passengers would receive the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for putting their lives at risk to protect other passengers and crew members.
“You put yourselves at risk to save others and prevented a terrible disaster. Today, the whole world saw the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society,” Herzog said in a statement.
“I am proud of you, and I thank you on behalf of the State of Israel.”
Herzog also praised the aircraft’s Indian pilot, Smit Machchha, who Israeli officials said was stabbed by the co-pilot but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene and restrain the attacker.
Among those set to receive the award is Yaniv Hayoun, a plumber who said he forced his way into the cockpit, overpowered the co-pilot and pinned him down.
Hayoun, who was still wearing a bloodstained shirt, was personally welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his return to Israel at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday.
According to passengers, the incident began after a woman raised an alarm and reported that someone had been stabbed, prompting several passengers to rush towards the cockpit.
Asaf Rajuan, another passenger who helped restrain the attacker, said the situation was frightening but that he and others acted instinctively to protect themselves and fellow passengers.
“It was an extraordinary incident,” Rajuan told Herzog, according to the Israeli president’s office.
“We felt helpless, suspended in midair, and I didn’t know who to turn to. But it was all instinct: to survive, to save the family, the people, and the children.”
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