Average people turning into superheroes.

Each person bringing their courage to do what they knew how to do. They saved 174 people, including 166 Israelis in a story that could have had a tragic ending.

Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national with 13 years of flying experience, was seriously wounded in the attack on Flight 1073 from Dubai.

According to passengers and Israeli officials, despite being badly injured, in his last moments of conciousness, Machchhar managed to release the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter.

Three Israeli passengers, Yaniv Hayun (plumber), Asaf Rajuan(owns an insurance agency) and Tzvika Manes (an Israeli CEO), helped overpower and restrain the copilot.

Hayun said that after dragging the attacker away from the controls, he returned to the cockpit as the plane was sharply descending and pulled back on the controls to help level the aircraft.

Asked how he knew what to do, he joked that he watches the aviation-disaster television series Mayday. Two off-duty pilots who happened to be passengers were then able to take control and ultimately land the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Another passenger, Israeli dentist Dr. Shota Musayev, treated the wounded captain, stopping his bleeding and stabilizing his blood pressure. He also helped secure the attacker, whose hands and legs had to be tied repeatedly during the roughly hour-long ordeal.

Passengers described terrifying scenes as the aircraft spiraled downward, with people being thrown around the cabin and children screaming that they did not want to die.

Manes said his wife and young daughter had been near the front of the plane when the attack began; after pulling his daughter away from the area, he joined the effort to stop the attacker.

The men eventually restrained the copilot using corded headphones.

Passengers later spoke of a series of extraordinary circumstances that saved them: the wounded captain managing to open the cockpit door, passengers willing to rush into the cockpit, Hayun being able to pull the plane out of its dive, a medical professional being aboard to treat the captain, and two off-duty pilots being available to fly and land the aircraft.

I think this story is a remarkable example of what happens when average people become something so much more.

People who act even if they are afraid.

Who will sacrifice every ounce of what they have to save other people.

Who will step up and save the day.

The entire country of Israel, and people all over the world, thank them for their bravery, quick thinking, and honor.

My faith in humanity got a beautiful boost in the last 24 hours.

Let's thank them!!!