What Courage Looks Like

On Tuesday May 10 a Yemeni man terrified passengers and crew on a San Francisco-bound American Airlines flight. With about thirty minutes left before landing, the man rushed down the aisle towards the front of the plane while yelling “Allahu Akbar” (the Arabic phrase that means “God is great”) and tried to break into the cockpit.

I’ve been unable to stop thinking about this incident since it happened – not because of any possible connection to wider Al Qaeda terror plots (that may or may not be the case), but instead because I am overwhelmingly impressed with how a few otherwise everyday “bystanders” reacted to the threat.

According to news reports, as the man rammed into the cockpit door, a flight attendant called out for help. Other flight crew members, a retired San Mateo policeman, a retired Secret Service agent, and a 77 year-old gold medalist from the 1960 Olympics leapt from their seats and successfully subdued the would-be cockpit intruder until the plane landed and he was handed over to authorities.  In the instant they reacted, these bold individuals could not have known in what potential danger they were putting themselves. We can safely assume that as they jumped to the rescue they had no idea if this man had a gun, a box cutter, or some other weapon. They did not know if he was wired with explosives. They could not have known if he had other accomplices on the flight that were themselves about to swing into action. For whatever reason, with whatever motivation, they just did what someone needed to do. 

I have always thought of myself as reasonably good to have around in the event of a catastrophe. On a regular day, I can be as selfish, angry, and petty as the next guy when things don’t go my way, but when things get extraordinarily bad, like emergency room or natural disaster bad, I step up. Still, in a situation like this, I don’t know how I would react.  Maybe none of us knows what he or she would do. Leap from your seat and throw yourself into the midst of danger? Grab your cell phone and try to call 911 (as if they could assist)? Sit in quiet panic and wait on someone else to take action? Maybe. Most of us don’t know what we would actually do in a potential life or death situation, but there are a couple of retired guys, some flight attendants, and an old shotputter who know.

I have a friend flying to San Francisco this week and both my mom and sister flying here two weeks later. I know the incident with the Yemini man may well just be the isolated action of a disturbed man. I know the flights of my family and friends will be fine and there is nothing to fear.  Still, I’m thankful to have been reminded what real courage looks like. I’m grateful that there are still plenty of ordinary folks among us who will – because of training, instinct, responsibility, or sheer balls – demonstrate extraordinary bravery when needed.