Heroes Honoured for Foiling flydubai Plane Attack

Five Israeli citizens have been honoured for their heroism in foiling a mid-air attack on a flydubai plane, saving the lives of all 174 people on board.

Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai was diverted and landed in Saudi Arabia after one pilot stabbed the other in the cockpit and "apparently tried to crash the plane", according to Israel's prime minister.

But passengers and crew aboard the Boeing 737 Max 8 were able to foil the co-pilot's attempt to crash the jet and managed to safely land it after it plummeted thousands of metres in a minute.

"You put yourselves at risk to save others and prevented a terrible disaster," Israel's President Isaac Herzog said in a statement.

"The whole world saw the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society. I am proud of you, and I thank you on behalf of the state of Israel."

Among the Israelis to receive the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism was Yaniv Hayoun, a plumber who seized control of the plane, helping save all 174 people on board.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed at least two Australians were on the plane and were safe, thanking the "heroes who thwarted the attack and helped bring the passengers to safety".

Mr Hayoun, still wearing a bloodied shirt, was personally greeted at Ben Gurion Airport by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who called him "a hero who has saved many lives".

Another award recipient, Asaf Rajuan, said it was an "extraordinary incident".

"We felt helpless, suspended in midair, and I didn't know who to turn to," he said.

"But it was all instinct: to survive, to save the family, the people, and the children."

Mr Herzog and Mr Netanyahu have also praised the plane's Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, who Israeli officials said managed to open the cockpit door to let passengers and crew save the plane after he was stabbed by the co-pilot.

Captain Smit Machchhar is in good health and recovering well in hospital, according to the Indian embassy in the UAE.

"He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals," Mr Netanyahu said in a post on X.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a "hero".

"In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy," Mr Modi said.

Pilot Gyorgy Peto, who is also a former aviation journalist, said the landing of this plane made "the landing on the Hudson like a walk in the park".

"Honestly the chances that this was survivable was pretty much close to zero," he said.

"There are a lot of small bits here that are close to a miracle, but this whole thing is just stunning in itself."

"Luck is a very important player in this whole equation."

He said the incident would inevitably bring changes to the aviation industry.

"The whole flying set-up, from a security point of view, was never planned that the pilots would attack each other," he said.

"I think there's a lot of changes coming, and a lot of uncomfortable changes, because of this."

Mr Peto said that should include better, more stringent background checks on pilots.

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir said he wanted the pilot extradited to Israel.

"I will demand in the cabinet to extradite the terrorist pilot who wanted to harm hundreds of innocent Israelis to Israel," he wrote on X.

"Here, he will encounter my policy in the prisons very well on his own flesh, a life of hell awaits him here!"