Disobedience saves 180 lives on FlyDubai flight FZ1073

A passenger aboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv helped save 180 lives last week after the co-pilot stabbed the captain, causing the plane to plunge 5,200 meters in 30 seconds. Captain Smit Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door despite injuries, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker. Israeli plumber Yaniv Hayun seized the controls, stopping the descent, and an off-duty pilot landed safely in Saudi Arabia. The incident highlights the value of questioning authority, echoing psychologist Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiments and examples like Soviet officer Stanislav Petrov. Jewish tradition, through figures like Esther and the principle of pikuach nefesh, also supports overriding rules to preserve life.