Miracle after miracle: How 174 passengers survived the Flydubai nightmare

Miracle after miracle: How 174 passengers survived the Flydubai nightmare: Flydubai flight FZ1073 took off from Dubai for Tel Aviv yesterday with 174 passengers onboard, most of them Israelis. What happened next came terrifyingly close to ending in disaster.

During the flight, the Omani co-pilot attacked and stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit. The Boeing 737 MAX then went into a terrifying dive, losing around 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.

But then came the first miracle.

Despite being badly wounded and bleeding heavily, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door before collapsing, allowing passengers and crew to get inside.

Several passengers rushed forward and fought the attacker. Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun helped overpower him and even pulled back on the plane's controls as it was diving. Dentist Dr. Shota Musaev helped restrain the attacker and then treated the wounded captain, who had already lost a huge amount of blood.

And then another incredible piece fell into place: extra pilots happened to be traveling onboard. They were able to take control, stabilize the plane and bring it safely to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Back in Israel, the hijacking emergency code triggered a massive response. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled and the country's top security officials held urgent consultations as they tried to understand what was happening in the air.

The plane landed safely. All 174 passengers survived. The wounded captain underwent treatment in Saudi Arabia and is in stable condition. Hours later, the passengers finally left Saudi Arabia on a replacement Flydubai plane and returned home to Israel.

The investigation is now focused on why the co-pilot did it. Israel is treating the possibility of a terror attack very seriously, while Saudi and UAE authorities continue investigating. As of now, no Iranian connection or other outside organization has been confirmed.

A wounded captain who managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers who had the courage to run toward the danger. A dentist who could treat the wounded. Extra pilots who happened to be onboard. And a plane that survived an extraordinary dive.

Today at the Kotel, thousands recited “Mizmor LeTodah” in thanks for what could have ended very differently.

𝗜𝗦𝗥𝗔𝗘𝗟 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦