The President of Israel intends to confer an award upon a Georgian-Jewish doctor who, according to Israeli media reports, demonstrated heroism during a perilous incident aboard a Flydubai flight. The physician in question is dentist Shota Musaev, who provided emergency first aid to the aircraft’s critically wounded pilot.
The dentist told journalists that he was among the passengers who immediately rushed toward the cockpit the moment it became clear that something was amiss on board.
“Hearing the screams, I was running there within 10 seconds without a moment’s hesitation,” Musaev told The Times of Israel after touching down at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. “When I entered the cockpit, the pilot was in critical condition, bleeding profusely, particularly around his head.”
“I turned out to be the only medical professional on board, and I ultimately managed to stem the bleeding and stabilize his blood pressure,” the doctor added.
Musaev, who was returning to Israel from China, administered emergency treatment to the 39-year-old Indian pilot who had sustained severe wounds—an intervention he firmly believes saved the victim’s life.
“Those were exceptionally harrowing minutes, but together with several courageous passengers, we managed to avert what came terrifyingly close to becoming a catastrophic disaster,” he recalled.
“Right now, I just want to go home and hug my children.”
CNN also aired an interview with the physician. Musaev noted that he took a direct part in subduing the attacker as well.
“We also restrained the terrorist. He didn’t shout at all; he simply sat quietly and complied. At first, we used a headphone wire, and later they brought us zip ties, which we also put to use. We were completely occupied with pinning him down and securing him. At the same time, I was treating the pilot.
Everyone around acted heroically. The whole plane, including the children. Everyone, absolutely every single person. This wasn’t just my achievement or Yaniv’s. Everyone was supporting one another. Women were helping each other. It was incredible.
Only now are we beginning to comprehend what we went through. In just half a minute, the airliner lost a staggering amount of altitude. We saw on the screen that the plane had plummeted 16,000 feet (about 4,800 meters). Now we understand: had that lasted just five or six seconds longer, there would have been no chance left to pull the aircraft out of the dive.
It is horrific when people decide to commit suicide and take innocent lives with them. The lives of children, of women—people who have nothing to do with any of this. It is a genuine tragedy. It breaks your heart.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced his intention to nominate four Israeli citizens aboard yesterday’s Flydubai flight for the Presidential Award for Civil Courage—Israel’s highest civilian decoration for acts of heroism.
Among those nominated are Yaniv Hayoun, Zvika Manes, and Asaf Radjuan, who stormed the cockpit and neutralized the co-pilot after he reportedly stabbed Captain Smeet Machhar, according to Israeli media outlets. The head of state will also decorate Dr. Shota Musaev for the vital, life-saving medical care he provided to the wounded captain.
“Hayoun, Manes, and Radjuan rushed to the rescue, breached the cockpit, and overpowered the assailant at grave risk to their own lives while Hayoun stabilized control of the airliner,” Herzog stated. “Following the neutralization of the attacker, Dr. Musaev administered emergency aid to the critically injured pilot and helped stabilize his condition until an emergency landing was made in Saudi Arabia.”
“The swift and decisive actions of the passengers and crew averted a major disaster,” the president emphasized.
According to the head of state, he personally spoke with all four men and “conveyed profound appreciation for the resourcefulness, courage, and sense of responsibility demonstrated amid extreme peril.”
The Israeli Embassy in Tbilisi released a separate statement.
“We are proud of and bow our heads before Shota Musaev and all those whose courage played a pivotal role in the safe rescue of 174 passengers. Among those whose heroism and bravery ensured the survival of the Flydubai flight passengers is Shota Musaev, an Israeli doctor of Georgian heritage.”
The diplomatic mission highlighted that Musaev’s actions averted a catastrophe and saved human lives: “Without hesitation, he was among the first to breach the cockpit, worked alongside other brave passengers to subdue the terrorist, and subsequently rendered emergency medical care to the severely wounded pilot. Shota Musaev managed to halt extensive hemorrhaging and stabilize the condition of the hero pilot, Captain Smeet Machhar, until the aircraft made an emergency landing.”