Here’s to the passengers of FZ1073, who have provided us with something more than a grateful headline during dark times.
While you were sleeping, the fate of the Middle East (and, frankly, the world along with it) teetered along one of the most tragic fault lines imaginable — and miraculously held together, thanks to the quick thinking and unflappable heroism of the Israelis whose lives were in the balance. For those only shaking the sleep out of their eyes: Overnight, passenger jet FlyDubai airlines flight FZ1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was subjected to a truly horrifying terrorist attack — one eerily reminiscent of 9/11.
This time the threat didn’t come from terrorists disguised as passengers — in fact, quite the opposite. The plane’s co-pilot, an Omani national whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was the attempted terrorist. He stabbed the pilot multiple times, yelled “Allahu Akbar!” and then steered the plane directly toward the ground, in an obvious attempt to kill everyone on board. (According to data readouts, the plane, cruising at an altitude of roughly 30,000 feet, dropped 17,000 feet in 29 seconds.) Several passengers, even as they were being tossed about the plane’s cabin, rushed the cockpit in a desperate attempt to subdue the madman.
I know what you’re thinking, because it’s what I thought too: This was Flight 93 all over again. All the horrifying beats, leading to the only possible fated end. Only, this time . . . it didn’t end that way at all. In what can only be described as a cross between an authentic miracle and a tribute to never-say-die competence, everyone is alive and unharmed — except for the poor pilot (himself from the UAE), whose life was apparently saved by a well-trained Israeli dentist.
Instead, the passengers and remaining aircrew forced open the cockpit door, yanked the terrorist violently from the controls, and re-righted the plane in mid-dive. Tom Cruise couldn’t have done it better — because he’s an actor, and these men were dealing with deadly reality. But understand both the improbability of all this (two spare pilots as passengers, ready to take over and make emergency maneuvers?) as well as the frankly hilarious truth that, to quote one proud Israeli commentator, “Overall, the probability that a plane full of Israelis will contain a trained assault team, two additional pilots, and, statistically, at least one cardiac surgeon, psychologist, lawyer, and diamond dealer is substantially higher than 50%.”
It’s easy enough (and right) to celebrate this sort of unexpectedly exhilarating outcome. But think for a moment if the more likely outcome had happened. Think about what kind of situation we would be waking up to in the Middle East, with the core of the Abraham Accords suddenly up for question. Think about the endless conspiracy theorizing we’d be getting from the Candace Owenses and Dave Smiths of the world. Think about the simple human tragedy of it all.
All avoided, because of quick thinking, solid training, and a blunt refusal to ever accept the fate others designate for you. Here’s to the passengers of FZ1073, who have provided us with something more than a grateful headline during dark times: They have given us a lesson on how to live life and never quit.