Israeli President Isaac Herzog will present the country's highest civilian award to four passengers on a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight who prevented a potential disaster, infohub.kz reports.
According to the president's office, the awards will go to Zvika Manes, Shota Musaev, Asaf Rajuan, and Yaniv Hayon.
The incident occurred after one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, causing the plane to rapidly lose altitude, according to a statement. Indian pilot Smit Machchhar fought the attacker and opened the cockpit door, while Tali Manes raised the alarm, reporting that something was wrong.
Hayon, Manes, and Rajuan rushed to help, entered the cockpit, and subdued the attacker, putting their lives at real risk, and Hayon took control of the aircraft to stabilize its flight.
After the attacker was neutralized, Dr. Musaev provided vital medical assistance to the severely wounded pilot, stabilizing his condition until the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, the statement said.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled toward the plane. It was later learned that the aircraft had landed in Saudi Arabia. Flydubai then told Israeli television that a fight had broken out between the pilots on the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight.
Soon, the first photos and videos from the plane emerged. The image shows a passenger who is believed to have struggled with the attacker. Authorities are investigating the possibility that one of the pilots may have deliberately tried to crash the plane. It is believed that his actions were stopped by the second pilot and Israeli passengers who fought him and prevented a disaster.
Media also reported that pilots from Ukraine and Russia were flying as passengers and took over the controls of the FlyDubai plane. It later emerged that the pilot injured in the attack by his colleague on board the FlyDubai plane was Indian citizen Smit Machchhar.
Flydubai suspended flights to and from Israel until the investigation into the incident is completed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the Flydubai passenger who helped subdue the pilot who started the fight.
The condition of the plane's captain, who was wounded in the incident, was also reported. And the Israeli embassy in Kazakhstan issued a statement.