Pilot ‘heard voice’ telling him to take off three minutes early and ended up saving 148 lives because of it
A Batik Airways pilot credits divine intervention for saving his plane from disaster during Indonesia’s 2018 earthquake. Captain Ricosetta Mafella said a voice urged him to depart early from Palu airport—a decision that allowed his flight to take off just 30 seconds before the 7.5-magnitude quake struck. The tremor triggered a deadly tsunami, killing over 4,300 people. Mafella later wrote on Instagram, “Thank You Jesus,” believing the Holy Spirit guided him.
Air traffic controller Anthonius Gunawan Agung also played a crucial role, staying behind to clear the flight despite the collapsing tower. Tragically, he died after jumping from the structure. Mafella reflected, “God reveals everything—if you’re late 1 or 2 seconds, it could be disaster.” His swift actions, combined with Agung’s bravery, ensured the safety of all 148 passengers and crew.
