Author Jack Carr: Passengers Must Be Prepared to Save Themselves on Flights

The incident aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073 on September 30, 2026, serves as a stark reminder that passengers must be prepared to defend themselves in mid-air, according to author and former Navy SEAL Jack Carr.

Carr, writing for Fox News, drew parallels between the real-world event and scenarios he depicts in his thrillers, highlighting the adage that "hope is not a course of action, in most cases, no one is coming to save you, you will need to be your own cavalry."

He expressed surprise that such an event, involving a pilot or co-pilot seeking martyrdom or acting with malice, had not occurred sooner. Carr outlined how a coordinated attack could be difficult to thwart, especially if additional individuals were involved in incapacitating passengers. "The enemy will learn and adapt to September 30, 2026," he wrote.

Carr detailed his own pre-flight routine, which involves observing fellow passengers, flight attendants, and pilots for any signs of distress or abnormality. He advises trusting instincts, as "if it doesn’t look right, it’s probably not."

He noted that in the FlyDubai incident, a series of fortunate events allowed for a different outcome. The pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, was not immediately incapacitated, managed to open the cockpit door, and passengers near the front of the plane intervened. Crucially, a pilot was on board to safely land the aircraft. Carr stressed that if any one of these elements had failed, the result would have been catastrophic.

Comparing the situation to past aviation attacks, Carr referenced the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988, which killed 270 people. He noted that the tragedy led to significant security changes, including the Aviation Security Improvement Act of 1990, which enhanced screenings and information sharing.

Carr argued that the FlyDubai event should prompt similar reforms, particularly in enhanced pilot screenings. He emphasized the need to assess not only qualifications but also a pilot's background, associations, and mental stability. "If, for example, a background check finds that instead of funding your 401(k) each month, you are diverting funds to Hezbollah or a charity funding terrorist organizations — an obvious red flag — you should not be a pilot and certainly should not be flying a plane full of Israelis into Tel Aviv."

He contrasted the pre-9/11 era, when hijackings were often for prisoner exchanges or ransom, with the post-9/11 paradigm where aircraft are used as weapons. This shift, Carr stated, requires passengers to be vigilant and ready to act decisively. He referred to the passengers' actions as fulfilling a citizen's responsibility to protect those unable to protect themselves, invoking Colonel John Boyd's OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) to describe the rapid decision-making involved.

Carr concluded by reiterating the importance of preparation and self-reliance, urging individuals to recognize their mind as the ultimate weapon in ensuring their own safety and that of others.