Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced Thursday that he will present "heroism" awards to four Israelis who played a key role in subduing a flydubai co-pilot during a violent incident on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The passengers, including a plumber, acted swiftly to prevent the plane from crashing after the pilot attempted to take control.
The incident occurred two hours into the flight, when the co-pilot was stabbed and tried to seize control of the aircraft. The plane descended over 17,000 feet before passengers and crew managed to overpower the pilot. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with one of the passengers, Yaniv Hayun, to express his gratitude.
Netanyahu stated that it is too early to determine the motive behind the attack, though he ruled out immediate Iranian involvement. The Flydubai airline has suspended all flights to Israel following the incident.
This is not the first time Israeli officials have acknowledged acts of bravery by foreign citizens. In 2023, a similar incident on a flight from Tel Aviv to Dubai saw passengers intervene to stop a pilot from crashing the plane. The current case highlights the ongoing tensions in the region and the role of civilians in preventing potential disasters.
