Yaniv Hayon.
Shota Musayev.
Tzvika Manes.
Asaf Rajuan.
Four Israelis who, when the unthinkable happened thousands of feet in the air, did not freeze. They acted.
Yaniv Hayon rushed toward the cockpit and helped take control of the aircraft when the plane was plunging. He grabbed the controls and helped pull the plane back up.
Tzvika Manes ran toward the cockpit and physically helped subdue the attacker. Together with the others, he helped restrain and tie him down using headphone cords.
Asaf Rajuan joined the struggle and helped overpower and neutralize the attacker. As he later said, they acted instinctively — fighting for their families and for their lives.
Dr. Shota Musayev, the dentist on board, immediately ran toward the cockpit when he heard the screaming. He found the captain severely wounded and bleeding and used his medical skills to stop the bleeding and stabilize him.
And then there was Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national — severely wounded, but still able to open the cockpit door, allowing the passengers to reach the attacker and helping make it possible for the aircraft to be brought under control.
Four Israelis. One Indian pilot. Crew members. And others on that plane who stepped forward when they were desperately needed.
But as I look at all of this, I cannot help but see something greater.
The hand of God.
Because before that flight ever took off, God already knew.
He knew who would be sitting on that plane.
He knew there would be a doctor.
He knew there would be people brave enough to run toward the danger.
He knew the wounded captain would find the strength to open that door.
He knew there would be additional pilots on board who could take over and land the aircraft safely.
What looked like chaos to the passengers was never outside God’s sight.
He had already prepared the way before they even knew they would need it.
People can call it courage. They can call it instinct. They can call it extraordinary circumstances.
But after everything that happened — and after all 174 people survived — if you will not call this a miracle, I honestly don’t know what you would call it.
The God of Israel is alive. 🇮🇱
He is still watching over His people.
He is still protecting lives.
He is still moving in ways we cannot always see.
And during Sukkot, when we are reminded that God is our shelter and our covering, this story feels especially powerful to me.
To Yaniv, Shota, Tzvika and Asaf — thank you for running toward danger when everyone else was trying to escape it.
To Captain Smit Machchhar — thank you for fighting to open that door even when you were gravely wounded.
And above all, thank You, God.
You protected 174 souls.
You brought them through the storm.
You brought them home.
The God of Israel is alive, and His hand is still upon the Holy Land and those who dwell in it.
May He continue to guide them, protect them, heal them, and cover them and their families.
If this isn’t a miracle, I don’t know what is.
אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שׁוֹמֵר עַל עַמּוֹ וּמַגֵּן עַל אַרְצוֹ.
Elohei Yisrael shomer al amo u’magen al artzo.
“The God of Israel watches over His people and protects His land.”
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