Herzog awards bravery medal to six Israelis who thwarted plot to down Dubai flight

State President Isaac Herzog awarded today at a ceremony at the President's residence the President's Medal for Civilian Bravery to six citizens who thwarted the plot to down the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv and saved dozens of passengers and crew members.

The medal recipients are Yaniv Chayun, Dr. Shota Mossayev, Tali Manes, Tzvi Manes, Or Perdiloff and Asaf Rejwan, who acted in real time while facing real and immediate risk to their lives. 'You are the six who prevented a serious aviation disaster, a disaster that would have changed the face of the state and the Middle East,' Herzog said.

The president announced his intention to award the Medal for Civilian Bravery, in accordance with the committee's recommendation, also to Indian pilot Captain Samit Matzcher, who was seriously wounded in confrontation with the attacker but managed with his remaining strength to open the cockpit door. According to him, the incident also requires investigation of the circumstances that allowed the attack attempt: 'To all of us, we deserve clear and satisfactory answers.'

Tzvi Manes said at the ceremony: 'What drove me forward was the scream of my daughters. When a parent hears such a scream, he acts without thinking.' Asaf Rejwan said that the flight passengers became a kind of family, and according to him they have a second birthday on Sept. 30, the day of the flight.

The President's Medal for Civilian Bravery was established by President Herzog following the massacre on October 7, 2023, and it is the highest civilian bravery medal in the State of Israel. Medal committee chairman retired Judge Elikim Rubinstein said at the ceremony: 'You and you are an example and model of the beautiful face of Israel.'