HERZOG TO HONOR FOUR ISRAELIS FOR BRAVERY ABOARD FLYDUBAI PLANE

TEL AVIV, OCTOBER 1 /SRNA - RIA Novosti/ - Israeli President Isaac Herzog plans to honor four Israelis who showed exceptional courage during a Flydubai flight with a presidential award, his office said.

Herzog's office said Yaniv Hayoun, doctor Shota Musayev, Tzvika Manes and Asaf Rajuan would receive the country's highest civilian award for bravery. Following the attack, Hayoun, Manes and Rajuan entered the cockpit and subdued the attacker, after which Hayoun helped bring the aircraft back under control.

"After the attacker was subdued, Dr. Musayev provided life-saving medical assistance to the seriously injured pilot, helping stabilize his condition until the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The swift response of the passengers and crew prevented a major disaster," the President's Office said in a statement.

The Flydubai aircraft, flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, issued a distress signal yesterday and later made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

The airline later confirmed that an incident had occurred during the flight in which the pilot attacked the co-pilot with a knife in an attempt to seize control of the aircraft, which was carrying more than 100 passengers from Israel.