Israel's Military Protocol for Hijacked Planes Revealed After Flydubai Incident

Ten days after the Flydubai incident, it was revealed on Saturday that the Israeli military's code name for responding to a civilian aircraft hijacking is "World Trade." This directive activates a military response to intercept hijackers, prevent further casualties, and protect strategic sites, alongside safeguarding passengers and crew. If necessary, fighter jets can be authorized to shoot down the aircraft or escort it to a safe landing. The "World Trade" directive is triggered by distress signals, such as the hijacking code 7500, which was used on the Flydubai flight. The name "World Trade" evokes the deadly 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The decision to shoot down a civilian plane is extremely rare and requires consultations among top security officials under political direction. This extreme measure is intended to prevent catastrophic damage, such as mass casualties on the ground or attacks on vital state security infrastructure. During the Flydubai incident, the Israeli military prepared for a potential hijacking. Fighter jets were scrambled to escort the aircraft while a decision on how to proceed was made. This is part of regular Israeli military training for scenarios involving diverted flights, unresponsive aircraft, or distress signals, including hijackings. The jets' mission is to identify and escort the plane while airspace closure is considered. The Israeli Air Force maintains constant readiness to counter aerial threats and prevent airspace violations, with units monitoring the skies 24/7. They train for various scenarios, including hijacked civilian planes heading to Israel, with the goal of rapid detection and response. The military emphasizes that activating the "World Trade" directive does not automatically imply a security incident; it can also be triggered by technical malfunctions, communication issues, navigational deviations, or human error by the flight crew. All unusual incidents are investigated until the concerns are resolved and the circumstances are fully understood.