On Wednesday, passengers on FlyDubai’s Flight 1073 were strangers. By Friday, they had forged familial bonds, following their harrowing experiences. It was a moment of terror, as the Boeing 737 Max plummeted towards the Arabian Desert at nearly the speed of sound.
The drama unfolded when the co-pilot from Oman attacked the captain and attempted to crash the plane full of Israeli passengers. They were less than 30 seconds from disaster, feeling the intense G-forces noted by passenger Zvika Manes as similar to a roller coaster.
“That minute is probably the longest minute of my life,” said passenger Daniel Schlichter. Reflecting on the moment, he shared, “You see all your life and you think about what is important…If we have to go, we have to go.”
Inside the locked cockpit, Captain Smit Machchhar was engaged in a desperate struggle. As he recounted to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he was able to reach the door and signal for help, moments before things could have turned tragic.
Among the passengers, Manes’s family was directly aware of the crisis. His daughter cried out, “He’s stabbing the pilot,” prompting Manes and others to spring into action. “I decided that we are going to survive, try to survive, to save my family,” Manes said. Tal Samuel emphasized the transformation among passengers, who joined forces like “lions in a mode of killing.”
The passengers responded with urgency. They aided Captain Machchhar, who they viewed as a hero for his valiant stand. Daniel Schlichter expressed the shared urgency, realizing that their intervention was necessary to overpower the assailant.
The co-pilot, Hamam al Hamami, had previously been barred from flying in Oman due to extremist views. Israeli investigators later revealed his social media posts advocating violence. The United Arab Emirates authorities declared his actions as a terrorist act.
Manes vividly described the struggle, “I was jumping on him, punching. He tried to resist.” Together with others, they restrained al Hamami, allowing off-duty pilots to regain control.
At this critical juncture, Dr. Shota Musaev, a dentist aboard the flight, emerged as a crucial figure. He treated the wounded captain, recognizing the urgency of their situation and pressing for an immediate landing.
The plane diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Despite initial fears of arrest due to bloodshed, the passengers were welcomed upon landing. Captain Machchhar received immediate medical care, and passengers reflected on their newfound connection stemming from shared heroism.
Dr. Musaev, staying by the captain’s side through recovery, underscored their bond, stating, “Yes…I think from this time we are a very big family.” In Hebrew, he acknowledged the collective courage which preserved their lives.
This incident serves as a powerful testament to human resilience and the extraordinary heroism displayed in dire circumstances.
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