(haipo) – Yaniv Hayon, a resident of Nes Ziona, who helped take control of the co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight, on which he was with his family, was awarded the "Hero of the City" medal by Mayor Shmuel Boxer. Also on the same flight was Yitzhak Lieber, a resident of Haifa, who also helped take control of the attacker and was even interviewed on Channel 12. Among the passengers was also former Deputy Mayor of Haifa, Shimshon Ido, and other families.
Haifa learned that some of the families are still dealing with the difficult consequences of the event. Will the Haifa Municipality know how to honor its residents who acted in times of danger?
Ness Ziona honors its heroes and what is happening in Haifa?
About a week ago, Yaniv Hayon, a resident of Ness Ziona, was awarded the “Hero of the City” award after helping to control the co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight on which he was traveling with his family, following the unusual and serious incident that occurred during the flight. Ness Ziona Mayor Shmuel Boxer presented Hayon with the award and praised his conduct, saying that he “demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and responsibility.”
The gesture by the Ness Ziona municipality raises a natural question: Will Haifa also recognize the residents who showed resourcefulness and courage in that incident, and helped deal with the danger posed to the passengers?
A FlyDubai flight that turned into a nightmare at thousands of feet
The incident occurred on FlyDubai flight FZ1073, as it made its way from Dubai to Israel and was carrying Israeli passengers and their families. During the flight, a serious incident occurred in the cockpit, when the co-pilot attacked the captain. According to reports, the plane began to dive, and the situation caused great concern among the passengers.
Amidst this frightening reality, passengers on the plane were forced to deal with an extreme situation, far from any possibility of receiving immediate assistance from the ground. Among the passengers who helped take control of the co-pilot was Yaniv Hayon, along with Yitzhak Lieber, a resident of Haifa.
Following the incident, the plane landed in Saudi Arabia. The incident ended without loss of life, but for the passengers and their families, the moments of terror during the flight were a particularly harrowing experience.
Haifa also has its own hero, Yitzhak Lieber
Among the passengers on the flight was Yitzhak Lieber, a resident of Haifa, who also helped take control of the co-pilot. Lieber was even interviewed on Channel 12 and spoke about the unusual incident and what happened during the flight. Lieber is not the only Haifa resident who found himself in the same situation. There were also other families from Haifa on the plane, including the family of Shimshon Ido, deputy mayor of Haifa, who was also on the flight.
These are residents who were on a routine flight, but found themselves in the middle of a dangerous and unexpected event. Within minutes, the experience that was supposed to end with a landing in Israel turned into a confrontation with a real fear for their lives.
In such situations, resourcefulness, composure, and a willingness to act can be crucial. Those who chose to intervene and help did so under difficult circumstances, when they themselves were in danger and uncertainty.
The trauma didn't end with the landing.
Haifa learned that some of the families who were on the flight have not yet recovered from the incident, and that they are still dealing with its emotional consequences. Even when the immediate danger passes and the plane lands safely, the experience does not necessarily end. Moments of extreme fear, helplessness, and fear for one's life may continue to accompany the passengers even after returning home.
For families who were on the plane, including families with children, returning to normal life can be difficult. Along with recognizing the courage shown by those who helped during the incident, it is also important to be concerned about the well-being of the passengers and support them after the harrowing experience.
Ness Ziona worked, will Haifa do the same?
The awarding of the "Hero of the City" award to Yaniv Hayon raises the question of how a local authority chooses to act when one of its residents shows resourcefulness and responsibility in an unusual event. Ness Ziona chose to express public appreciation for a resident who acted in a time of danger. Now the question arises as to what the Haifa Municipality is doing for its residents who were on that flight, and in particular for Yitzhak Lieber, who assisted in taking control of the co-pilot.
Did the municipality contact Lieber and the families of the Haifa residents who were on the plane? Did it inquire about their well-being after the incident? Is the possibility of awarding a certificate of appreciation to the residents who helped prevent a disaster being considered? And will the fact that Deputy Mayor Shimshon Ido was also on the flight lead the municipality's management to closely examine what the passengers went through and their needs after the incident?
As of the publication of this article, no responses have been received from the Haifa Municipality, but they will be added when received.