President Herzog to Award Civil Heroism Medal to Dubai Flight Saviors

President Isaac Herzog announced his intention to recommend the awarding of the "President's Medal for Civil Heroism" to four Israelis who demonstrated exceptional bravery on a flight from Dubai to Israel, preventing a severe attack. Herzog spoke with the four individuals, Yaniv Hayun, Dr. Shota Musayev, Zvika Mans, and Assaf Radwan, expressing his deep appreciation for their courage, resourcefulness, and mutual responsibility during the dangerous incident.

"At moments when the lives of so many people were in danger, you acted without hesitation, with courage, resourcefulness, and exceptional mutual responsibility," Herzog stated. "You risked your lives to save others and prevented a heavy disaster. The whole world saw the beautiful and brave face of Israeli society today. I am proud of you and thank you on behalf of the State of Israel."

Dr. Shota Musayev described the event as "very difficult" and a near miss, emphasizing that the heroism was collective. "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 took care of each other properly. This shows our strength as a nation."

Mans, Hayun, and Radwan also shared their experiences and expressed gratitude for the President's call and the recognition. The President's Medal for Civil Heroism is the highest civilian honor, established by Herzog during the recent war to recognize citizens who acted with extraordinary bravery and risked their lives to save others out of mutual responsibility.