What happened
Israel was prepared to shoot down a FlyDubai plane after the captain was attacked in the cockpit by the co-pilot, according to Israeli sources. The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had over 150 Israelis on board when the incident occurred. The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets and close its airspace.
The Israeli Air Force tried to contact the cockpit but received no answer, leading to the establishment of a command center and the scrambling of fighter jets. However, the jets were called back after the plane turned towards Saudi Arabia, and the Saudis scrambled their own jets. The captain was able to fight off the co-pilot, and a group of Israeli passengers and FlyDubai staff overpowered him, allowing two off-duty pilots to gain control of the aircraft and make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
According to Israeli sources, if the plane had gotten within a certain distance, Israel would have sent jets into Jordanian airspace to investigate. The protocol for a rogue flight approaching Israel involves inspecting the cockpit and cabin, and if necessary, shooting down the plane to prevent a potential disaster. The decision to shoot down the plane would have required the approval of the prime minister.
The co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al Hamami, allegedly planned the attack before he was employed by FlyDubai and intended to crash the plane at Ben Gurion Airport. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and it is believed to be a lone-wolf attack.
