The crisis of the Egyptian plane that was hijacked to Cyprus on March 29 ended. However, we should learn from such incident. Egyptian stewardess Nihal Barkoki refused to abandon the plane though she knew that the hijacker was wearing an explosive belt that may end her life.
She said later that the passengers were her responsibility, and she took her responsibility though she could die. Yet, none of her family was on board, but it is a matter of conscience for her.
Another Egyptian woman called Shadia Salama was born in 1952, and worked as stewardess. When she was heading from Greece aboard a 737 Boeing aircraft to Cairo, the plane was hijacked and several passengers got killed. Shadia told the hijackers that she will cooperate with them on condition that they will kill no more passengers. She was amazingly calm though the situation was very serious.
The airplane landed in Malta to fuel. Shadia convinced them to free women in order to prove their good intentions. Therefore, 11 women were released and Shadia was chosen by the hijackers to be a mediator between them and the airport authorities. Shadia refused to abandon the passengers knowing her life was threatened.
In fact, she insisted on being among the hostages until she was actually killed in the incident.
Such women should be honored by a statue at Cairo airport, not only to honor the Egyptian women, but also to raise awareness that women are courage as men.
Egyptian women deserve this statue of courage mother. This is one way to dispel many common myths about inability of women in the Egyptian society.
