Tami Arad, wife of missing navigator Ron Arad, wrote a letter that was read at the pilots' protest, in which she stated that "39 years ago, I tried to explain to anyone who would listen that Ron's time was running out." According to her, "Like today, good people stood by us and supported us. Unlike today, decision-makers then genuinely acted to bring Ron back. No one believed then that a living prisoner could simply disappear from the world on a clear day. Today's decision-makers know very well what can happen."