Israel Activates 'Global Trade' Protocol Amid Flydubai Hijacking Scare

Israeli security forces were on high alert Wednesday due to a scare involving a Flydubai passenger plane en route from the Emirates to Israel. During the tense moments, Israel's security apparatus activated a rare and critical protocol known as 'Global Trade,' designed to counter the hijacking of a passenger aircraft and prevent a catastrophic outcome.

The 'Global Trade' protocol, updated after the September 11th attacks, empowers the Prime Minister to make split-second decisions, including the potential downing of a hijacked plane heading towards Israel. Since 9/11, the most feared scenario involves crashing a plane into sensitive locations like the Kirya (Israel's defense ministry headquarters), Ben Gurion Airport, or the Azrieli Center towers in Tel Aviv.

In response to the incident, the Israeli Air Force maintained constant readiness with fighter jets armed with air-to-air missiles for a potential "sky defense" mission. The elite Sayeret Matkal unit, trained for storming hijacked aircraft as demonstrated in past operations like Entebbe, was also mobilized. Its operatives prepared for the possibility of needing to breach an aircraft, either within Israel or at another Middle Eastern destination.

Hercules transport aircraft, capable of landing and extracting personnel from various locations, were placed on standby at Nevatim base. The article suggests the incident, which it labels an intelligence and security failure, indicates that the era of airplane hijackings remains a threat to Israel, even in 2026.