Israel prepared to shoot down FlyDubai jet after cockpit attack?

Dubai: Israel was prepared to shoot down a FlyDubai passenger aircraft carrying more than 150 Israelis if it continued toward the country after the captain was attacked in the cockpit, according to a report by CBS News. It cited Israeli sources familiar with the incident.

The September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv plunged sharply after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft. With the cockpit unresponsive, the Israeli Air Force scrambled fighter jets and Israeli airspace was temporarily closed amid fears of a potential hijacking or 9/11-style attack.

Israel has a long-standing emergency protocol for aircraft suspected of posing an imminent threat. Under the procedure, fighter jets would attempt to establish visual contact and assess the situation before any decision to destroy the aircraft. Such a decision could ultimately be taken only by the prime minister, according to the sources.

The Israeli jets were recalled after the aircraft changed course toward Saudi Arabia, prompting Saudi authorities to scramble their own fighters.

Meanwhile, the captain managed to resist the attacker and unlock the cockpit. Passengers and FlyDubai crew members then overpowered the co-pilot, while two off-duty pilots took control of the aircraft and diverted it to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.

The incident has since triggered an international investigation into the attack and the circumstances surrounding the attempted takeover.