Israel was prepared to shoot down FlyDubai plane after attack on captain: Report

Israel was prepared to shoot down a FlyDubai passenger plane carrying more than 150 Israelis if it was determined to have been hijacked after the captain was attacked in the cockpit last week, CBS News reported, citing two Israeli sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv plunged about 14,000 feet after the co-pilot allegedly attacked and stabbed the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft.

Israeli fighter jets were scrambled and the country’s airspace was closed after attempts to contact the cockpit went unanswered. The jets were later called back after the aircraft, about 400 miles from Israel, turned towards Saudi Arabia, according to CBS News.


Also Read: UAE had shared details about FlyDubai flight with Israel, including pilots' names and nationalities

The incident activated Israel’s long-established protocol for a possible 9/11-style attack, the report said.

Under the procedure, fighter pilots would first attempt to visually assess the cockpit and cabin and determine whether the aircraft had been hijacked.

If the plane continued towards Israel, maintained radio silence and made no demands, the decision to shoot it down could ultimately be taken only by the prime minister, the sources said in the report.

The protocol is designed to prevent a rogue aircraft from striking high-value targets such as the Azrieli buildings or Ben Gurion Airport.

The captain eventually fought off the co-pilot long enough to unlock the cockpit door, after which Israeli passengers and FlyDubai staff overpowered the attacker. Two off-duty pilots on board then helped regain control of the aircraft before it made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Also Read: flydubai horror: Co-pilot planned attack before being hired by airline, two Israeli officials say

The co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al Hamami, allegedly told investigators in the United Arab Emirates that he had planned the attack before joining FlyDubai and intended to crash the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport, an Israeli official told CBS News.

An early Israeli investigation indicates the attempted hijacking was likely a lone-wolf attack, although investigators are continuing to examine other possibilities, the sources said in the report.