Israeli authorities had established a protocol to shoot down a FlyDubai flight last week, even with more than 150 Israelis on board, after the aircraft's captain was allegedly attacked in the cockpit. According to two Israeli sources with direct knowledge of the incident, the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was approaching Israel when the co-pilot reportedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft. This account was confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, passengers, and the flight captain himself.
Israel maintains a well-practiced procedure for potential incidents similar to the 9/11 attacks. When the plane suddenly plummeted 14,000 feet, the Israeli Air Force attempted to reach the cockpit but received no response. In response, authorities quickly convened a pre-established committee and activated a command center.
Fighter jets were scrambled, and Israeli airspace was temporarily closed. The military response was called off once it became clear the aircraft had turned toward Saudi Arabia, approximately 400 miles from Israel, where Saudi jets were subsequently scrambled to intercept the flight. Had the aircraft, identified as Flight 1073, moved within a specific range of Israel, the military was prepared to deploy jets into Jordanian airspace to assess the situation.
The protocol dictated that fighter pilots would attempt to make visual contact with the cockpit and cabin to determine if the passengers were in danger or if the flight was being hijacked. If the plane was confirmed as a hijacked vessel and the individuals in the cockpit remained silent without making demands, the committee would have consulted the defense minister and the prime minister. While the established protocol allows for a rogue flight to be shot down, only the prime minister holds the authority to issue that order. Sources noted that destroying the passenger jet would have been considered a necessary measure to prevent the loss of hundreds of lives had the plane been steered toward high-value targets such as the Azrieli buildings or the airport.
The suspect, identified by sources as Omani national Hamam al Hamami, reportedly told investigators in the United Arab Emirates that he had planned the attack prior to his employment at FlyDubai. An Israeli official indicated that al Hamami had flown to Israel previously and intended to crash the plane at Ben Gurion Airport. Preliminary investigations by Israel suggest that the attempted hijacking was a lone-wolf attack, though the inquiry remains ongoing as officials continue to explore all possibilities.
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