Israel Recognizes Flydubai Passengers as Victims of Hostile Acts

Israel's Ministry of Defense has officially recognized the passengers of a Flydubai flight as victims of hostile acts, following an investigation that determined the incident was an attempted terror attack. The decision, which was transferred to the National Insurance Institute, will enable passengers to receive comprehensive support, including medical and psychological assistance, as well as compensation.

The incident occurred on September 29, during a routine flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot, identified as Omani, attacked the Indian captain with an emergency axe and attempted to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport. The investigation in the Emirates revealed the attacker had planned the incident since 2017.

Following the attack, approximately a dozen Israeli passengers stormed the cockpit, discovering the captain severely injured. Two other pilots, Rowan Toth from South Africa and Hanson Stephen from Fiji, managed to regain control of the aircraft and land it safely. The President of the UAE honored these pilots with commendations and medals for their bravery.

Passengers have established a dedicated administration, led by Tzvi Mance, CEO of the underwriting firm Barak Leumi, to coordinate their efforts with authorities and the airline. The administration has appointed the law firm Naschitz Brandes Amir to represent them in legal proceedings against the airline, the Ministry of Transport, and the State of Israel, with anticipated claims potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars.

Passenger Tal Mance heard unusual shouts from the cockpit and alerted other Israeli passengers to investigate. Upon entering the cockpit, they found the captain injured and the co-pilot attempting to seize control of the plane.