… 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%.”
From “Another Flight 93 Averted” by Jeffrey Blehar.
The Indian pilot of FlyDubai FZ1073, Captain Smit Machchhar, managed to unlock the cockpit door.
This was crucial. Had he not done so, passengers could not have stormed the cockpit and the plane would certainly have been brought down. With all 174 aboard killed.
What a monstrous tragedy mercifully avoided.
If you’re religious, and you’re a sane person, you’ll thank God. Unless you’re Muslim, in which case you’ll curse Allah wail why did Allah forsake us?? (yet again…).
For an atheist like me: I see it as a combination of bravery, but also of luck. We, the civilised world, were lucky this time.
Questions: how will this affect the Abraham Accords? How will it affect ongoing negotiations for more countries to make peace with Israel? How will it affect the FlyDubai flights, which are quite recent addition to the region?
