Israeli President Isaac Herzog has awarded the Medal of Civil Courage to Shota Musaev, a member of the Georgian-Jewish community. The ceremony took place at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. Musaev was recognized for administering critical first aid to a wounded Flydubai captain who had been attacked by the co-pilot after the latter seized control of the aircraft.
Commenting on the award, Shota noted: “Many miracles happened that day. We were a chain of people helping each other, and if a single link had been missing, it would have broken. Everyone acted with courage.”
Five other individuals who played key roles in saving the aircraft and its passengers also received awards: Yaniv Hayon, Zvika and Tali Manes, Or Friedlov, and Asaf Rajuan.
“The Medal of Civil Courage does not merely signify that you saved lives. It is also bestowed upon you because, in a moment of trial, you revealed something far deeper: you demonstrated the resilience of the Israeli spirit. It is a spirit of courage. A spirit of immense resourcefulness,” Isaac Herzog said during the award ceremony.
Shota Musaev was born in Georgia and graduated from Tbilisi State Medical University. His father-in-law is Yuza Moshiashvili, a prominent singer in the Georgian-Jewish community. Musaev currently works as a dentist in Israel, where he lives with his family. His wife was also aboard the aircraft; they were returning home together from a trip to China.
On September 30, 2026, a Flydubai passenger airliner flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia following a hijack alert. The diversion was prompted by a brawl in the cockpit, during which, according to the official account, the first officer attacked the captain with a knife and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
During the incident, the aircraft plummeted from 9,410 to 5,106 meters above ground level in just 29 seconds. There were 174 people aboard the Boeing 737 MAX 8, including 27 children. The landing was carried out by two deadheading “relief pilots” who were on board to operate a subsequent flight.
