A Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Deliverance of Flydubai Flight FZ 1073

Almighty, Sovereign, and Eternal God, Lord of the heavens, the earth, and the skies: We bow before Your throne of grace with trembling awe and overflowing thanksgiving. You alone measure the expanse of the firmament; You alone preserve life from the pit and turn aside the shadow of destruction. As our one Father and Creator,¹ who has begotten us and watches over His children with unfailing mercy, we lift our voices in profound gratitude for Your miraculous hand of deliverance stretched forth in the high heavens to preserve Flydubai Flight FZ 1073 on its journey from Dubai toward Tel Aviv.

When sudden wickedness and lethal assault erupted within the flight deck, and when the aircraft plummeted thousands of feet toward the desert floor in terrifying peril, You did not abandon the souls aboard into the hand of death. In the midst of violent turmoil and mortal fear, You sent from on high and took hold of them; You snatched them back from the brink of total catastrophe.²

We give You earnest praise for the instrument of Your mercy, the young child Nina, who, upon perceiving the sudden peril, showed discernment far beyond her years—doing the next right thing without hesitation to sound the alert and mobilize immediate remedial action. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have ordained strength.³

We thank You for sustaining the grievously wounded Captain, Smit Machchhar, granting him fortitude to unseal the barrier and cry out for aid; and for the swift, selfless valor of the rescuers: Rami Abu Shamala, Eitan Stern, and David Biton, who, alongside fellow passengers and off-duty crew, charged into mortal jeopardy, grappled with violence, bound the assailant, and secured the flight controls against ruinous odds. You girded them with courage and commanded Your holy angels to encompass the vessel and shield every life under the shadow of Your wings.⁴

When the craft shuddered in steep descent and all human hope seemed swallowed up, the cries of the helpless ascended to Your ears. You stilled the terrifying tempest of the skies; You preserved the torn frame of the aircraft, granted composure to those at the helm, and guided Flight FZ 1073 across the desert expanse to touch down in peace and safety upon the runway of Tabuk.⁵

Our souls have escaped like a bird from the broken snare of the fowler; the snare was broken, and by Your merciful right hand, every passenger and crew member was preserved alive, our help ever abiding in the Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.⁶ You delivered them from so great and imminent a death, and in Your enduring lovingkindness, You delivered them whole.⁷

To You alone—Father of mercies, Preserver of mankind, and Redeemer of our lives—belong all glory, honor, majesty, and thanksgiving, now and unto all generations, world without end.

We humbly bow before Thee in Thy Name, before Thy Name, by Thy Name, and unto Thy Name.

Amen.

Scriptural Footnotes

Gatgounis Protocol

1. Malachi 2:10 ↩

Hebrew, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: הֲלוֹא אָב אֶחָד לְכֻלָּנוּ הֲלוֹא אֵל אֶחָד בְּרָאָנוּ מַדּוּעַ נִבְגַּד אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו לְחַלֵּל בְּרִית אֲבֹתֵינוּ׃
Greek, Septuagint / LXX, Malachi 2:10: οὐχὶ πατὴρ εἷς πάντων ὑμῶν; οὐχὶ θεὸς εἷς ἔκτισεν ὑμᾶς; τί ὅτι ἐγκατελίπετε ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ τοῦ βεβηλῶσαι τὴν διαθήκην τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν;
King James Version, KJV: “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?”
Modern Translation: Do we not all share one Father? Did not one God create us all? Why then do we deal faithlessly with one another, profaning the sacred covenant of our fathers?
Latin Vulgate, Biblia Sacra Vulgata, Malachias 2:10: Numquid non pater unus omnium nostrum? numquid non Deus unus creavit nos? quare ergo despicit unusquisque nostrum fratrem suum, violans pactum patrum nostrorum?
Exegetical Summary: The prophet establishes absolute divine paternal headship, invoking the singular Fatherhood, אָב אֶחָד / πατὴρ εἷς, and universal creative authority, אֵל אֶחָד בְּרָאָנוּ / θεὸς εἷς ἔκτισεν, of God as the foundational ground for human unity, sanctity of life, and covenantal fidelity.

2. Psalm 18:16–17 (MT 18:17–18) ↩

Hebrew, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: יִשְׁלַח מִמָּרוֹם יִקָּחֵנִי יַמְשֵׁנִי מִמַּיִם רַבִּים׃ יַצִּילֵנִי מֵאֹיְבִי עָז וּמִשֹּׂנְאַי כִּי־אָמְצוּ מִמֶּנִּי׃
Greek, Septuagint / LXX, Psalm 17:17–18: ἐξαπέστειλεν ἐξ ὕψους καὶ ἔλαβέν με, προσελάβετό με ἐξ ὑδάτων πολλῶν· ῥύσεταί με ἐξ ἐχθρῶν μου δυνατῶν καὶ ἐκ τῶν μισούντων με, ὅτι ἐκραταιώθησαν ὑπὲρ ἐμέ.
King James Version, KJV: “He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.”
Modern Translation: He sent from the heights above and grasped me; He pulled me free from surging waters, rescuing me from my fierce enemy and adversaries far too potent for my strength.
Latin Vulgate, Biblia Sacra Vulgata, Psalm 17:17–18: Misit de summo, et accepit me; et assumpsit me de aquis multis. Eripuit me de inimicis meis fortissimis, et ab his qui oderunt me, quoniam confortati sunt super me.
Exegetical Summary: The text underscores Yahweh’s sovereign downward reaching from the celestial height, מִמָּרוֹם / ἐξ ὕψους, to snatch and draw out, מָשָׁה / προσελάβετο, the helpless from overwhelming chaos, מַיִם רַבִּים / ὑδάτων πολλῶν, and deliver, נָצַל / ῥύσεται, them from adversaries exceeding human power.

3. Psalm 8:2 (MT 8:3) ↩

Hebrew, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: מִפִּי עוֹלְלִים וְיֹנְקִים יִסַּדְתָּ עֹז לְמַעַן צוֹרְרֶיךָ לְהַשְׁבִּית אוֹיֵב וּמִתְנַקֵּם׃
Greek, Septuagint / LXX, Psalm 8:3: ἐκ στόματος νηπίων καὶ θηλαζόντων κατηρτίσω αἶνον ἕνεκα τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου τοῦ καταλῦσαι ἐχθρὸν καὶ ἐκδικητήν.
King James Version, KJV: “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.”
Modern Translation: From the speech of little children and nurslings You have established an unyielding bulwark against Your adversaries, silencing the foe and the vengeful.
Latin Vulgate, Biblia Sacra Vulgata, Psalm 8:3: Ex ore infantium et lactentium perfecisti laudem propter inimicos tuos, ut destruas inimicum et ultorem.
Exegetical Summary: God establishes unshakeable power and testimony through the simple discernment of a youth, עוֹלְלִים / νηπίων, utilizing the small and humble to confound hostile ruin, צוֹרְרֶיךָ / τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου, and silence the adversary, לְהַשְׁבִּית / τοῦ καταλῦσαι.

4. Psalm 91:11–12 ↩

Hebrew, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה־לָּךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ׃ עַל־כַּפַּיִם יִשָּׂאוּנְךָ פֶּן־תִּגֹּף בָּאֶבֶן רַגְלֶךָ׃
Greek, Septuagint / LXX, Psalm 90:11–12: ὅτι τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ ἐντελεῖται περὶ σοῦ τοῦ διαφυλάξαι σε ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς σου· ἐπὶ χειρῶν ἀροῦσίν σε, μήποτε προσκόψῃς πρὸς λίθον τὸν πόδα σου.
King James Version, KJV: “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
Modern Translation: For He assigns His celestial envoys over you to guard you throughout every path, carrying you upon their hands so that your foot will not strike against a stone.
Latin Vulgate, Biblia Sacra Vulgata, Psalm 90:11–12: Quoniam angelis suis mandavit de te, ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis. In manibus portabunt te, ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum.
Exegetical Summary: Yahweh delegates providential guardianship through heavenly messengers, מַלְאָכָיו / τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ, charged to preserve and guard, שָׁמַר / διαφυλάξαι, the faithful across all operational paths, physically sustaining and bearing them up, נָשָׂא / αἴρω, against lethal impact.

5. Psalm 107:28–30 ↩

Hebrew, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל־יְהוָה בַּצַּר לָהֶם וּמִמְּצוּקֹתֵיהֶם יוֹצִיאֵם׃ יָקֵם סְעָרָה לִדְמָמָה וַיֶּחֱשׁוּ גַּלֵּיהֶם׃ וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ כִי־יִשְׁתֹּקוּ וַיַּנְחֵם אֶל־מְחוֹז חֶפְצָם׃
Greek, Septuagint / LXX, Psalm 106:28–30: καὶ ἐκέκραξαν πρὸς κύριον ἐν τῷ θλίβεσθαι αὐτούς, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἀναγκῶν αὐτῶν ἐξήγαγεν αὐτούς· καὶ ἐπέταξεν τῇ καταιγίδι, καὶ ἔστη εἰς αὔραν, καὶ ἐσίγησαν τὰ κύματα αὐτῆς· καὶ εὐφράνθησαν, ὅτι ἡσύχασαν, καὶ ὡδήγησεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ λιμένα θελήματος αὐτῶν.
King James Version, KJV: “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.”
Modern Translation: In their dire distress they cried aloud to the Lord, and He led them out of their straits; He quieted the howling gale into a gentle hush and stilled the surging waves, safely leading them to the port of their desire.
Latin Vulgate, Biblia Sacra Vulgata, Psalm 106:28–30: Et clamaverunt ad Dominum cum tribularentur, et de necessitatibus eorum eduxit eos. Et statuit procellam ejus in auram, et siluerunt fluctus ejus. Et laetati sunt quia siluerunt; et deduxit eos in portum voluntatis eorum.
Exegetical Summary: Human extremity evokes the desperate cry, צָעַק / κράζω, prompting divine intervention that transforms catastrophic atmospheric fury, סְעָרָה / καταιγίς, into hushed quietness, דְּמָמָה / αὔρα/σιγή, and steers, נָחָה / ὁδηγέω, the imperiled vessel safely to its intended haven, מָחוֹז / λιμήν.

6. Psalm 124:7–8 ↩

Hebrew, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: נַפְשֵׁנוּ כְּצִפּוֹר נִמְלְטָה מִפַּח יוֹקְשִׁים הַפַּח נִשְׁבָּר וַאֲנַחְנוּ נִמְלָטְנוּ׃ עֶזְרֵנוּ בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ׃
Greek, Septuagint / LXX, Psalm 123:7–8: ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν ὡς στρουθίον ἐρρύσθη ἐκ τῆς παγίδος τῶν θηρευόντων· ἡ παγὶς συνετρίβη, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐρρύσθημεν. ἡ βοήθεια ἡμῶν ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ ποιήσαντος τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν.
King James Version, KJV: “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Modern Translation: Our life has slipped free like a sparrow from the snare of the trappers; the trap was shattered to pieces, and we have made our escape. Our help resides in the Name of the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.
Latin Vulgate, Biblia Sacra Vulgata, Psalm 123:7–8: Anima nostra sicut passer erepta est de laqueo venantium: laqueus contritus est, et nos liberati sumus. Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini, qui fecit caelum et terram.
Exegetical Summary: The imagery portrays the fragile human life, נֶפֶשׁ / ψυχή, delivered, נִמְלְטָה / ἐρρύσθη, from an inescapable deadly entrapment, מִפַּח יוֹקְשִׁים / ἐκ τῆς παγίδος τῶν θηρευόντων, through the catastrophic fracturing of the trap, הַפַּח נִשְׁבָּר / ἡ παγὶς συνετρίβη, rooting all deliverance decisively in the sovereign covenantal Name of the Creator, עֶזְרֵנוּ בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה / ἡ βοήθεια ἡμῶν ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου.

7. 2 Corinthians 1:10 ↩

Hebrew, Franz Delitzsch Hebrew New Testament: אֲשֶׁר מִמָּוֶת כָּזֶה הִצִּילָנוּ וְעוֹד יַצִּיל וַאֲשֶׁר שַׂמְנוּ בוֹ תִּקְוָתֵנוּ כִּי גַם־יוֹסִיף לְהַצִּיל׃
Greek, Novum Testamentum Graece / NA28 & Textus Receptus: ὃς ἐκ τηλικούτου θανάτου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς καὶ ῥύεται, εἰς ὃν ἠλπίκαμεν ὅτι καὶ ἔτι ῥύσεται,
King James Version, KJV: “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;”
Modern Translation: He rescued us from so perilous a mortality and continues to rescue; in Him we have set our lasting hope that He will preserve us yet again.
Latin Vulgate, Biblia Sacra Vulgata: Qui de tantis periculis eripuit nos, et eruit: in quem speramus quoniam et adhuc eripiet,
Exegetical Summary: Paul confesses the efficacy of God’s rescue from an imminent, overwhelming threat of mortal ruin, מִמָּוֶת כָּזֶה / ἐκ τηλικούτου θανάτου, establishing unshakable confidence in His ongoing and complete deliverance, נָצַל / ῥύομαι, across every dimension of peril.

Modern Miracle: A Prayer on God's Deliverance of FlyDubai FZ 1073