Israel was prepared to shoot down a FlyDubai flight carrying more than 150 Israeli citizens after an attack on the captain inside the cockpit last week, according to two Israeli sources with direct knowledge of the situation. The incident occurred as the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv approached Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, passengers, and the captain confirmed that the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash the aircraft. Following a rapid 14,000-foot descent, the Israeli Air Force attempted to contact the cockpit without success, triggering standard procedures for a potential 9/11-style emergency. Authorities mobilized a pre-established committee, set up a command center, closed Israeli airspace, and scrambled fighter jets. The military recalled the jets after realizing the aircraft had turned toward Saudi Arabia roughly 400 miles away, prompting Saudi authorities to dispatch their own aircraft. The captain successfully fought off the co-pilot long enough to unlock the cockpit door. Passengers and FlyDubai crew members then subdued the co-pilot, while two off-duty pilots on board took control of the plane and executed an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Sources explained that had Flight 1073 crossed into a specific perimeter, Israeli jets would have entered Jordanian airspace to visually inspect the cockpit and cabin. If the plane remained silent, unresponsive, and headed toward a high-value destination like the Azrieli buildings or the airport, the prime minister and defense minister would have faced a decision on whether to shoot it down to prevent catastrophic loss of life. An early Israeli investigation suggests the event was likely a lone-wolf attack, though inquiries remain active. Following initial questioning by Saudi authorities, the co-pilot is currently undergoing a second round of interrogation in the United Arab Emirates, where Israeli representatives have traveled to join the investigation.
Source: cbsnews.com
