Dr. Carole Lieberman links FlyDubai scare to global trauma and terror fears

Dr. Carole Lieberman says a reported mid-air incident aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073 is a reminder that terrorism and unrest still shape public psychology. She argues the passengers’ response shows how ordinary people can interrupt fear at a moment of heightened global tension.

Why it matters: - Dr. Carole Lieberman framed the FlyDubai incident as more than an aviation scare, calling it a warning about how terrorism and unrest affect public fear, trust and resilience. - The episode comes amid multiple flashpoints, including the approach of the October 7 anniversary, unrest in France and the 25th anniversary of 9/11. - Lieberman said the passengers’ response showed how civilians can disrupt what she described as terrorism’s psychological advantage.

What happened: - In a Times of Israel column published today, Lieberman focused on FlyDubai Flight 1073 and described passengers and crew intervening after a copilot allegedly tried to interfere with the aircraft’s operation. - She said citizen passenger Yaniv Hayoun joined the effort to stop what authorities said could have been a deliberate attempt to crash the plane. - Former U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee called the incident a “miracle.” - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Captain Smit Machchhar’s “immense courage.” - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Machchhar’s “unwavering resolve” and said his actions “saved countless lives.” - Israeli officials said Captain Machchhar and others will receive Israel’s highest honor for their actions. - Some observers compared the response on Flight 1073 with the actions of passengers on Flight 93 on 9/11.

The details: - Lieberman said the incident is a psychological story as much as a security story because terrorism is meant to create fear in ordinary moments and erode trust in protective systems. - She said an alleged attack stopped near a national day of mourning underscores that danger persists even as courage remains possible. - Lieberman described herself as a board-certified psychiatrist who has spent decades treating terrorism victims and analyzing extremist psychology for national media. - She said she traveled to Israel shortly after the October 7 attacks and met people still processing shock and grief. - She also attended the National September 11 Memorial & Museum’s 25th-anniversary events and stood with survivors and first responders. - During the United Nations General Assembly, she sponsored a mobile billboard truck in New York City to remind world leaders that terrorism is a daily threat that requires moral clarity.

Between the lines: - Lieberman’s message ties a single aviation incident to a broader argument about how fear spreads when violence, extremism and political instability overlap. - Her comments suggest that public response matters as much as security systems because civilian action can blunt the effect of a threat even before official intervention. - The comparison to Flight 93 places the FlyDubai episode inside a familiar post-9/11 framework of collective resistance.

What's next: - Lieberman is available for interviews today and throughout the week on the FlyDubai incident, rising global terror threats, the psychological impact of the October 7 anniversary, trauma, resilience, antisemitism and lessons from 9/11. - The incident is likely to remain part of a larger public conversation about aviation security, terrorism and the emotional toll of recurring global unrest.

The bottom line: - Lieberman says the FlyDubai scare is a reminder that terrorism aims to dominate psychology, but fast action by ordinary people can interrupt that fear and save lives.