Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Thursday with several of the Israeli passengers credited with helping save the Flydubai flight from an alleged suicide terror attack, telling them that their actions have become a symbol of Israeli courage seen around the world.

“The entire world sees the Israeli heroism. You will light a torch of civic heroism on Independence Day,” Netanyahu told the group during the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Netanyahu met with Yaniv Hayun, Or Pardilov, Dr. Shota Musayev and Musayev’s wife, Sigalit, and heard their firsthand accounts of the terrifying struggle aboard the flight from Dubai.

The passengers described how they subdued and restrained the alleged Omani attacker after the captain was stabbed.

“We tied the stabbing pilot with the headphone cable. He was saying ‘Kill me’ – meaning that he failed at his mission and prefers to die,” they told Netanyahu.

The account corresponds with new information emerging from the investigation indicating that the alleged attacker repeatedly asked to be killed after being overpowered.

An Israeli official said Thursday that investigators had also uncovered social media material indicating that the Omani copilot had been radicalized by jihadist ideology and had discussed killing Jews.

Netanyahu praised the passengers for what he described as extraordinary heroism, resourcefulness and faith, telling them their actions prevented a massive disaster and saved numerous lives.

The prime minister also used the meeting to urge Israelis to remain alert amid heightened security concerns.

“I urge the citizens of Israel to learn from you, to keep their eyes open and be vigilant. We are in a very sensitive time. There is an intent of our enemies to harm us,” Netanyahu said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)