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Israel Air Force Has Protocol to Down Hijacked Passenger Planes
Details have emerged regarding a secret Israeli military directive codenamed "World Trade" (Tzahar Olami), which outlines the Israel Defense Forces' protocol for responding to suspected civilian aircraft hijackings. The existence of the order, named in reference to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, was revealed ten days after an attempted hijacking and subsequent crash of a Flydubai flight.
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What happened
- 01The IDF operates under a secret directive codenamed "World Trade" to handle suspected civilian aircraft hijackings.
- 02The protocol allows Israeli fighter jets to intercept, escort, or potentially shoot down a hijacked passenger plane.
- 03The directive was activated during a recent Flydubai incident, prompting the IDF to scramble two fighter jets.
- 04The order is triggered by distress signals, including the international aviation code 7500 indicating a hijacking.
- 05The primary goal of the protocol is to prevent mass casualties on the ground and attacks on strategic national infrastructure.
- 06The decision to destroy a civilian aircraft requires high-level security consultations and approval from the political leadership.
- 07The name of the directive, "World Trade," is a direct reference to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The directive allows Israeli fighter jets to intercept and confront hijackers or terrorists on a civilian airliner. Under the protocol, jets can escort the hijacked plane to a safe landing or, in extreme scenarios, shoot it down. This measure is designed to prevent an aviation incident from escalating into attacks on strategic national security infrastructure or causing mass casualties on the ground.
Activating the "World Trade" order occurs upon receiving a distress signal, such as the international aviation code 7500, which signifies unlawful interference. This specific code was transmitted during the recent Flydubai incident, prompting the IDF to scramble two fighter jets to escort the aircraft while assessing the situation.
According to the reports, the decision to shoot down a passenger plane is an exceptionally rare and extreme measure. It requires extensive consultation with senior defense and security officials, as well as final approval from the political leadership, and is considered only as a last resort to avert a far greater disaster.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Vesty. Read Vesty’s originalThe coverage
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