Israeli President Honors Passengers for Foiling Dubai Flight Hijacking Attempt

Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog presented the "President's Award for Civil Heroism" to six passengers from a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight who acted to thwart a hijacking attempt. The passengers were recognized for their bravery in preventing the incident and saving the lives of dozens of people aboard.

The recipients of the award are Yeniv Chayon, Dr. Shota Musayev, Tali Mans, Zvika Mans, Or Pardilov, and Assaf Rejwan. The award, established by Herzog after the October 7th attacks, is considered the highest civilian honor in Israel.

During the ceremony at the President's Residence, the honorees shared their experiences. Tali Mans described her actions as driven by "maternal intuition," while her husband Zvika said the cries of their daughters motivated him to act immediately. Dr. Shota Musayev characterized the passengers as a "chain of people who helped," and Assaf Rejwan noted that the passengers now feel like family, with September 30th becoming a "second birthday" for them.

President Herzog also addressed the Indian pilot, Captain Smith Macher, who was injured during the incident but managed to open the cockpit door. Herzog wished him a speedy recovery and announced his intention to also award him the Medal of Civil Heroism, following the committee's recommendation. The President emphasized that while honoring the heroes, the incident also necessitates clear and full answers.

Eliakim Rubinstein, the chairman of the awarding committee and a retired judge, highlighted the "extraordinary mutual aid" displayed during the event and called the recipients "an example and a model of Israel's beautiful face."