Israel was prepared to shoot down flydubai passenger jet carrying more than 150 Israelis after its captain was attacked in the cockpit and the aircraft plunged thousands of feet, CBS News reported, citing two Israeli sources with direct knowledge of the situation.According to the sources cited by CBS, Israel activated a long-established protocol for a potential 9/11-style incident after the aircraft plunged about 14,000 feet. The Israeli air force attempted to contact the cockpit but received no response.A pre-established committee was convened, a command centre was set up, fighter jets were scrambled and Israeli airspace was closed.The jets were recalled after Israeli authorities saw the aircraft turning towards Saudi Arabia, around 400 miles from Israel. Saudi Arabia also scrambled fighter aircraft in response.CBS reported that had the flydubai flight continued towards Israel, Israeli fighter jets could have entered Jordanian airspace to intercept and visually assess the aircraft. Pilots would have attempted to establish contact with the cockpit and inspect the cabin for signs of panic or a hijacking.Under the Israeli protocol, if a passenger aircraft was determined to be hijacked, remained unresponsive by radio and continued towards Israel without making demands, the matter would be escalated to the defence minister and prime minister.The protocol allows for the aircraft to be “shot down”, with the final decision resting with the prime minister, according to the sources.Israeli officials told CBS that the suspected attacker, identified by sources as Omani national Hamam al Hamami, allegedly told UAE investigators that he had planned the attack before joining Flydubai and intended to crash the plane at Ben Gurion Airport. An Israeli official also said he had previously travelled to Israel.An early Israeli assessment indicated that the attempted hijacking was likely a lone-wolf attack, though the investigation remains ongoing and other possibilities are still being examined.The Dubai-Tel Aviv flight was approaching Israel on September 30 when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft. The plane later diverted towards Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing in Tabuk after passengers, crew members and two off-duty pilots helped overpower the attacker and regain control.
