Israel Prepared to Down Flydubai Jet During Hijacking Attempt

Israel was prepared to shoot down a Flydubai flight carrying over 160 Israeli civilians during a hijacking attempt by its co-pilot, CBS News reported. The highly unusual measure was considered to prevent a "September 11-style" terror attack, as Israeli and American intelligence assessed the co-pilot planned to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport or a tall building in Tel Aviv. Under standard procedures, an aircraft deemed hostile and unresponsive to radio communication is designated for interception. During the incident, the Israeli Air Force attempted to contact the cockpit without success, established a command center, and scrambled fighter jets. The jets were to cross into Jordan and approach the airliner to assess the cockpit situation before a final decision was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the defense minister, if the circumstances warranted it. Ultimately, the plane, approximately 600 kilometers from the border, diverted to Saudi Arabia after the pilot managed to fight off the attacker and open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue him. The attacker, identified as an Omani citizen born in the UAE, grew up with his Syrian mother and Omani father. He studied aeronautics remotely at a British university until 2023, posting extremist statements online, and was an intern at Oman Air in 2024 before a management role was considered due to concerns about Syrian radicalization. Israel has sent representatives to the UAE to join the investigation into the incident.