Israel's Protocol for Hijacked Planes Detailed After Flydubai Incident

Following a recent Flydubai flight scare that triggered an emergency response, Israel has reviewed its protocol for handling aircraft hijackings. The incident, where the plane transmitted a hijacking code and was diverted to Saudi Arabia, prompted urgent consultations involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The flight, carrying over 170 passengers, landed safely, but Israeli authorities are treating such events as serious attacks. It is believed that one pilot intended to crash the plane, but the other, with passenger assistance, regained control.

For over two decades, the Israeli Air Force, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation, Mossad, and Shin Bet, has practiced procedures for dealing with hijacked aircraft, including scenarios where they might be used as weapons. While the full protocol remains classified, key stages involve initial distress signals, potential diversion, and, in extreme cases, the decision to shoot down the aircraft.

The process begins with identifying a potential hijacking, often signaled by the '7500' transponder code or through intelligence, communication loss, or unusual flight behavior. Air traffic control can monitor suspicious events up to 2,000 kilometers away. The initial aim is to verify if it's a hijacking or a technical issue.

If the suspicion persists, fighter jets are scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Air control units track the plane, and the operation is managed from the Air Force's central command. The intercepting pilots attempt to establish visual contact and communicate using agreed-upon signals, including fly-bys and wing wiggles, to assess the situation inside the passenger plane.

The next step involves attempting to divert the aircraft to a landing, preferably away from populated areas, with the Air Force commander potentially closing airspace. If a hijacking is confirmed, a specialized negotiation team is deployed, while intelligence agencies work to identify the hijackers and their intentions. The critical question is whether the hijackers intend to land and make demands or use the plane as a weapon.

In scenarios involving a potential attack, the matter escalates to the highest levels, including the IDF Chief of Staff, and the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet. The Air Force commander presents the aerial situation and recommendations, while intelligence chiefs provide gathered information. If time permits, these leaders may convene at the central command center.

The most severe scenario, termed 'Level 3' in Air Force protocol, involves the credible threat of the hijackers crashing the plane into a target in Israel, similar to the 9/11 attacks. Even then, efforts are made to divert or land the aircraft. Only if a real and immediate threat is confirmed does the decision to intercept a civilian airliner with passengers aboard reach the political echelon.

The final decision to shoot down a plane typically rests with the Prime Minister, especially as the aircraft approaches Israeli airspace. This extreme measure is considered only after all other attempts to identify the situation, communicate, ascertain intentions, divert, or land the plane have failed. If the plane lands, a separate protocol for isolating the aircraft and managing the hostage situation is initiated.