He didn’t reckon, however, on the indomitable spirit of the passengers.
By now, the whole world knows, as the New York Post reported Wednesday, that “an Israel-bound passenger plane pilot was reportedly stabbed several times by the jet’s co-pilot in the cockpit — and the terrifying scenes caused the aircraft to plunge almost 20,000 feet in minutes, sparking fears of a ‘terrorist attack in mid-air.’”
The passenger plane pilot who was stabbed was an Indian national, Captain Smit Machchhar; his co-pilot was an Omani Muslim who had evidently decided that a plane full of Israelis gave him a marvelous opportunity to wage jihad for the sake of Allah.
“The jet,” says the Post, “which departed Dubai for Tel Aviv just before 7 a.m., was cruising at around 34,000 feet before violence broke out in the cockpit around two-and-a-half hours into the flight.” At that point, “the co-pilot tried to take control of the Boeing 737 Max 8 plane, which was carrying 174 passengers including 27 children, and attacked the pilot several times.”
One passenger recounted : “We were either going to crash or be murdered. It was like a terrorist attack in mid-air.” Very like. An official explained: “One pilot stabbed the other and tried to do 9/11.”
This sort of thing was bound to happen sooner or later, and will almost certainly happen again. After all, the Qur’an repeatedly directs Muslims to “kill them wherever you find them.” (2:191, 4:89, 4:91, cf. 9:5) Regarding the Jews, it says: “You will find the Jews and the idolaters the most vehement of mankind in hostility to those who believe” (5:82), and demonizes them relentlessly in numerous other passages.
Add to all that the fact that the Islamic jihad against Israel is worldwide. Numerous Islamic jihad groups have called for the murder of Jews all over the world. It’s noteworthy that the pilot who attempted this aerial jihad was Omani. Oman is not often heard from in connection with jihad, and many assume that the Muslims there are “moderates.” The jihad, however, is universal. In fact, when a Muslim land is attacked, Islamic theology holds that defensive jihad is obligatory upon every Muslim worldwide. And many Muslim authorities consider the very existence of Israel to constitute the attack of a Muslim land.
The unnamed official whom the Post quoted also said: “A very serious disaster was averted.” Indeed. And according to C14News, “witnesses report that the pilot initiated a steep, dangerous dive with the intent to crash the plane; only the extraordinary quick thinking of Israeli passengers—who joined forces with another crew member to physically subdue the suspect—managed to halt the descent at the last moment, saving the lives of approximately 180 Israeli citizens and the other passengers.”
While virtually the entire world was reporting this as an attempted hijacking, the BBC, sticking firmly to its well-established editorial policies, instead characterized it this way “Israel’s far-right minister Ben Gvir SAYS it was a terrorist that wanted to crash the plane to kill Israelis.” An onscreen caption read “Flight ‘fight,’” as if the whole thing was nothing more than a scuffle between a couple of drunk passengers.
This reflects routine practice in establishment media reporting on all things Israeli. When Israel takes out a “Palestinian” jihadi or uncovers a Hamas tunnel, or generally accomplishes anything, the establishment media presents it as “The Israeli government claims…” or at best “The Israeli government says…” But if the governments of Qatar or Pakistan or even the Islamic Republic of Iran say they’ve done something, the establishment media presents it as established fact. This is a subtle and constant undermining of Israel that accompanies the frankly hostile reporting about the Jewish state across the board.
Another ugly reality about this entire incident is the fact that if the jihadi co-pilot had succeeded in murdering 180 Israelis, “Palestinians” and their supporters around the world would be celebrating today. Their bloodlust and inhumanity is naked, open, and unhidden, and yet the global political and media establishment still accords them the moral high ground. One might almost get the impression that the definers of acceptable opinion throughout the world have lost their moral compass and are suffering from a deep spiritual malady. And that is only because they are.
J Allan says
‘… the BBC, sticking firmly to its well-established editorial policies, instead characterized it this way “Israel’s far-right’
You let us Brits concern ourselves with the licence-funded BBC, Spencer.
YOU concern yourself with YOUR country’s media!
Bexarkat says
Then, perhaps, get on with it….
gravenimage says
Spot on, Bexarkat!
Raja says
Allan, BTW, BBC characterized the devil’s handiwork in mid-air (attempted massacre) as altercation “because” the airline company released the incidence as such! what an excuse to cover up the attempted jihad massacre! BBC was once great now it is part and parcel of the islamic and other evils.
Giancarlo MATTA says
united-kingdom is finished
W. Churchill is rolling in his grave
SHAME on YOU
Mo says
And what are you doing about it, ALLAN.
Aggravator. Show some respect to Mr. Spencer.
James Lincoln says
J Allan,
So just to enlighten us, just how have the Brits been concerning themselves with the license-funded BBC?
Daniel Triplett says
BBC relies on a global business plan, selling media to customers worldwide. Every consumer, regardless of their location on the globe, therefore have a right to comment and critique the product they’ve purchased.
As a Brit, would you not be allowed to publicly critique your foreign vehicle just because the manufacturer is foreign?
Raja says
👍👍❤️❤️
David M says
I was listening to the BBC report on it & they kept saying the motive was unknown…….
aum says
This Brit cancelled his BBC license fee 7 years ago – I can do without the Biased Broadcasting Corporation.
ConcernedReader says
Brave souls, who managed to thwart something terrible that could have happened.
I apologize for being off topic, but i would suggest to have a look at france where the youth(mostly muslims) are now rioting.
It would be interesting to see how many of the youth percentage of the French students are muslims.
Because it would prep other countries for when to expect this to happen.
Arson is one of the tactics of islam. As it never bothers what will happen to the area once the fire destroys everything. They are willing to make an area desolate and unproductive if it means that the infidels no longer can or will live there.
Bexarkat says
If the Saudis do not try him and then lop off his head, perhaps the Omanis will. Either way, I think that Mr. Abbas, a/ka Abu Mazen will dedicate a park or an elementary school in the hijacker’s honor…better yet, if the Arabs occupying Judea and Samaria ever build an airport, perhaps that will bear the name of “al Jihadi.”
John Smith says
When I first heard about this on the TV it came across as nothing more than a fight on a plane between a couple of co-workers. This is the manner in which it was originally reported, it didn’t enter my head it was a jihadi attack.
gravenimage says
I knew as soon as I heard about it, John–but not because the report was explicit…
somehistory says
There was a report that the muzzie had posted stuff on social media about killing Jews. That was his plan and with a plane load of his target, he intended to carry it out.
The muzzie is rotten inside…if still alive, he should rot on the outside unless the courts can extinguish his evil rot.
gravenimage says
Somehistory, he was grounded and assigned to a desk by his Omani airline. But then he quit–and somehow got on with Dubai.
Dave says
9-11 brought down the twin towers. What evidence is there that this plane was going to crash into some important building in Israel or anywhere else? It was a horrendous attempt to kill a plane load of Israelis, but not a 9-11. This attempted distortion affects your credibility.
somehistory says
How about the plane which went into the ground in Pennsylvania on that same terrible day of September 11?
That plane was taken over by muzzie terrorists….and then passengers prevented the plane from crashing into ‘an important building.’
Perhaps the passengers or crew heard the muzzie saying what he intended…..but whatever the case, likening it to that other day of mass slaughter is not “attempted distortion.”
Quote from the article, a quote Mr. Spencer only posted
” An official explained: “One pilot stabbed the other and tried to do 9/11.”
Mr. Spencer is not going to lose any credibility.
gravenimage says
+1
Islam is bad says
The risk of allowing Muslims to serve as commercial airline pilots is unacceptable.
The potential risk is that the Muslim pilot will turn instant Jihadi, and crash the plane, killing all on board, as well as potentially killing people on the ground.
An Egyptian Muslim pilot, Gameel Al-Batouti, turned instant Jihadi and crashed EgyptAir Flight 990 in 1999. Gameel Al-Batouti was recorded saying “Tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah” (I put my trust in Allah) numerous times after turning off the autopilot and reducing the engines to idle in order to deliberately crash the plane into the Atlantic Ocean.
The pilot of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370), that is believed to have been deliberately crashed into the southern Indian Ocean in March 2014, was a Malaysian Muslim pilot who probably turned instant Jihadi and killed everyone on board.
And now an Omani Muslim pilot has turned instant Jihadi in 2026 on this Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv and attempted to deliberately crash the plane, before his plan was thwarted.
The risk of allowing Muslim commercial pilots to control the lives of innocent passengers is too high. One can never be certain that a seemingly normal Muslim pilot won’t turn instant Jihadi. As Churchill once alluded, Jihadism in Muslims is like rabies in dogs – one can never be certain when it might suddenly present itself.
All commercial airlines should be banned from allowing Muslims to be commercial pilots. The risk is too great.
dumbledoresarmy says
The jihadi also did NOT reckon on the fighting spirit and courage of the Captain – the guy at the controls. Although badly hurt the Captain – of Indian background, and NOT a Muslim, most likely Hindu – somehow managed to open the door between the cockpit and the cabin, which permitted the Israelis to intervene in the nick of time, subdue the attacker, and get the backup pilot to the controls to fly the plane. I suspect this Indian Captain had more than a faint hope that if he could just open that door, the cavalry might come.. as he had a plane full of Israelis!! And he was right so to hope…
If the Captain had not opened that door, the jihadi would have succeeded.
Latest word is that although severely injured in the attack (his life was saved by an Israeli dentist who applied first aid in the plane) he should recover.
Raja says
Nice Comment dumbledoresarmy,
Here’s the latest *copy pasted*: Captain Smit Machchhar is recovering well, speaking, and in good health after being airlifted for continued medical care, according to an update shared by the Times of India.
Health and Recovery Status
• Current Condition: Captain Machchhar is reported to be speaking, smiling, and laughing. Officials noted his recovery is a great relief to his family and supporters.
• Hospital Transfer: After receiving emergency surgery and initial care in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, he was airlifted to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to continue his treatment.
• Official Visits: India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, visited Captain Machchhar and his family at the hospital to convey full government support and check on his healing process.
The devil was a murderer from the beginning as Jesus has said and he is still on the job. How many so-called cine stars *whether muslim or Hindu* have condemned the devil’s work. Nothing short of accepting it as devil’s whack job should be acceptable. The daggers are out in the open and as such should be acknowledged so.
Daniel Bielak says
I agree, dumbledoresarmy.
Gratitude and well-wishes to the pilot.
May he have a complete recovery from his injuries.
The Israeli government should honor him.
gravenimage says
Thank you, DDA–kudos to the captain, the crew, and the passengers! All brave.