Israel Prepared for Worst-Case Scenarios During Flydubai Hijacking Attempt

Israel's top leadership was prepared for multiple severe scenarios, including the potential downing of a Flydubai flight en route to Tel Aviv, before the situation was confirmed to be under control. The flight, carrying 174 passengers including 27 children, most of whom were Israeli citizens, experienced an incident where the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to crash the plane. The Israeli military scrambled fighter jets towards Jordan, ready to intercept and destroy the aircraft if it posed an "11 September-style" threat to Israel. An Israeli official stated that a "terrorist pilot" intended to crash the plane in Israel but would have been intercepted. Other scenarios considered involved the plane crashing in Jordan or Saudi Arabia, potentially requiring the deployment of Israel's elite Shaldag special forces unit, or the passengers being taken hostage. Israel's national counter-terrorism unit, Yamam, prepared for a hostage situation. The IDF's Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, along with other senior intelligence and operations officers, assessed the situation and authorized the deployment of two fighter jets. Ultimately, none of the most dire scenarios materialized. The situation was reportedly stabilized by four Israeli passengers who subdued the attacker, the captain who opened the cockpit door despite being injured, and two foreign pilots. The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. The incident began when the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian captain with an emergency axe, leading investigators to suspect a "jihadist terror attack." The Mossad is leading the investigation, collaborating with Saudi authorities, while Shin Bet agents will interrogate passengers, particularly the four who intervened. Military intelligence is also involved. Despite the serious incident, Flydubai flights between the UAE and Israel resumed. A Flydubai rescue flight was used as Saudi Arabia denied landing permission to an Israeli aircraft. While one theory suggests the co-pilot may have acted on behalf of Iran, no evidence currently supports this claim.