Israeli President to Honor Six Passengers Who Thwarted Flydubai Hijacking

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will present the Presidential Prize for Civil Heroism to six individuals who were on board a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, when a serious hijacking attempt occurred. The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, at 3:30 PM at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Dr. Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan, and Or Bardilov will receive the award for their actions during the incident. The Presidential Prize for Civil Heroism is Israel's highest civilian honor, recognizing acts of bravery. Established by Isaac Herzog following the October 7 massacre, the award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional heroism, risking their lives to save others. Each nomination undergoes a review process before being submitted to an advisory committee appointed by the president. The prize has previously been awarded to Israelis who risked their lives to save others during the October 7 massacre in southern communities, as well as for acts of bravery in other circumstances. The awarding of this distinction to the six passengers comes just over a week after the attempted hijacking of the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Their intervention aboard the aircraft helped subdue the Omani co-pilot after he assaulted the captain, thereby preventing an aerial catastrophe.