Passengers Intervened in Mid-Air Attack on Flydubai Flight

On a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, passengers and crew members intervened when the co-pilot reportedly attacked the captain, causing the aircraft to enter a steep dive. The incident, which occurred yesterday, led to passengers and crew entering the cockpit, subduing the attacker, and with the help of other pilots on board, successfully landing the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. While investigations into the motive and security aspects are ongoing, the article highlights the extraordinary actions of those on board who, instead of seeking safety, ran towards the danger to save lives. Rabbi Moshe Katz draws a parallel to the teachings of Maimonides, who described a state of "divine assistance" that prompts individuals to perform great deeds, suggesting that in moments of crisis, people can discover inner strength they never knew they possessed. This event is presented not just as a near-disaster averted, but as a testament to human courage and the instinct to act selflessly for the sake of others, echoing ancient wisdom about finding one's greatest strength when focused on saving another.

Rabbi Katz interprets the passengers' actions through the lens of Maimonides' "Guide for the Perplexed," specifically referencing the concept of "divine assistance" that inspires individuals to undertake significant acts of goodness. He notes that Maimonides used the example of saving a group of Jews from oppressors, suggesting this is not necessarily about prophecy but about an internal awakening and the drive to perform a great deed. The article posits that in such critical moments, the usual considerations vanish, leaving only the imperative to save another. It suggests that this capacity for heroic action is an inherent, albeit sometimes dormant, human quality, particularly emphasized within Jewish tradition, where the plight of another Jew can trigger a profound, immediate response. The passengers' actions are seen as an embodiment of this principle, demonstrating that sometimes the greatest strength is revealed when one stops thinking about oneself and focuses on rescuing others.