Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recalled his experience rescuing passengers from a hijacked aircraft, while drawing parallels between the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and recent events involving Israeli citizens.
Speaking in an interview from 5:08 with Fox News on Thursday, October 1, 2026, Netanyahu identified Daniel Lewin, a dual American-Israeli citizen and former elite Israeli military officer, as the first casualty of the 9/11 attacks.
Netanyahu said Lewin had served in the same elite military unit as him, Sayeret Matkal, and recalled how he was killed aboard American Airlines Flight 11 after confronting the hijackers.
The Israeli leader also revealed that he was wounded during an operation to rescue passengers from a hijacked Belgian aircraft, describing the experience as part of his military background in counter-terrorism operations.
Recalling Lewin’s actions aboard the aircraft, Netanyahu said, “Look at what happened on 9/11. I don’t know if you know this. The first casualty of 9/11 was a brilliant Israeli entrepreneur, Daniel Lewin, he had been an officer in my unit, special unit in the military. And you’re right, this is the unit, I myself was wounded in the rescue of a hijacked Belgium airplane when we rescued passengers again taken by Islamist terrorists.”
He further explained how Lewin confronted the attackers before being stabbed by another hijacker.
Netanyahu added, “So, what happened here, what happened then is that Lewin took — basically attacked the attackers, the hijackers, that were en route to the White House with one of those suicide planes and he was then stabbed in the back by another hijacker.”
Netanyahu also referred to an Israeli civilian he described as a hero, suggesting that the recent incident could have resulted in another tragedy comparable to 9/11.
Emphasising the civilian’s actions under dangerous circumstances, Netanyahu said, “He was the first casualty of 9/11, an American/Israeli. He was the first casualty. Now you had the possibility of having another 9/11, and an Israeli passenger, a civilian, I met this guy, he’s an incredible hero. Look at what he did under impossible circumstances.”