American passenger drafted goodbye texts to her family as Flydubai plane plummeted

Mika Bauman, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, was traveling alone on her way back from a vacation when the dramatic incident unfolded.

Mika Bauman, a 25-year-old U.S.-Israeli dual citizen who was onboard the Flydubai plane, speaking to NBC News in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Mika Bauman, a 25-year-old U.S.-Israeli dual citizen who was onboard the Flydubai plane, speaking to NBC News in Tel Aviv on Thursday.Dmitry Solovyov / NBC News

Oct. 1, 2026, 1:59 PM EDT

By Matt Bradley

TEL AVIV — As Mika Bauman looked out the window of the rapidly plunging plane, the 11-year-old girl next to her reached out and grabbed her hand.

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