Jerusalem, October 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have praised passenger Yaniv Hayoun for helping overpower the attacker aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel, as authorities continue to investigate the mid-air incident.
Herzog spoke with Hayoun and three other Israelis involved in the response — Dr Shota Musayev, Zvika Manes and Asaf Rajuan — and said he intends to recommend them for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.
“I called the four heroic passengers who displayed extraordinary courage in an impossible situation, and informed them that it is my intention to recommend awarding the ‘Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism’,” Herzog said in a post on X.
The President also shared a video of his conversation with Hayoun, who was among the passengers who entered the cockpit after the aircraft experienced a dramatic loss of altitude.
Earlier, Netanyahu met Hayoun at Tel Aviv airport following the aircraft’s emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia. Hayoun was still wearing the blood-stained shirt he had worn during the incident.
“I see you, and I see a lion. You are a great hero. What you did is just unbelievable. You saved not only the passengers of the plane, but many others,” Netanyahu told him.
According to Hayoun’s account, he and other passengers attempted to enter the cockpit after Indian Captain Smit Machchhar was allegedly stabbed by the co-pilot. Hayoun said Machchhar was initially blocking access to the cockpit door but eventually managed to open it.
Hayoun said he saw the alleged attacker near the aircraft controls and restrained him in a chokehold before pulling him away. He then returned to help regain control of the aircraft.
“When I went in, I saw the terrorist on the devices between the two chairs. I grabbed the terrorist, choked him, and pulled him away from there,” Hayoun said, recounting the incident to Netanyahu.
When asked how he knew how to operate the controls, Hayoun replied that he had learned about such situations by watching Air Crash Investigation.
Netanyahu has also praised Captain Machchhar for his actions after he was seriously injured during the incident. In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister said the Indian pilot showed “extraordinary bravery” and helped prevent a potential mid-air catastrophe.
The flight, carrying 174 passengers, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The incident remains under investigation, and the motive behind the attack has not been established.
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