Israel was prepared to shoot down FlyDubai plane, sources say

Israel considered shooting down a FlyDubai plane after a cockpit confrontation that left the flight captain injured, according to two Israeli sources. The incident occurred during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and tried to crash the aircraft. Despite over 150 Israeli passengers on board, the Israeli Air Force was prepared to take drastic action to protect national security.

After the plane plummeted 14,000 feet, Israeli fighter jets attempted to communicate with the cockpit but received no response. A committee was swiftly mobilized, and fighter jets were scrambled, closing Israel's airspace. However, the plane turned towards Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi military scrambled their jets. The captain managed to regain control of the aircraft with the help of Israeli passengers, off-duty pilots, and two off-duty pilots on board.

They managed to land the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Had the plane entered Israel's airspace, the sources claimed that Israeli fighter jets would have been deployed to investigate, and the defense minister and prime minister would have been informed if a hijacking was suspected. The sources emphasize that the protocol for such a scenario is to shoot down the aircraft, but only the prime minister has the authority to make that decision.

The incident is believed to be a lone-wolf attack, and the investigation is ongoing, with all possibilities still being explored. The co-pilot is currently being questioned in the UAE after being apprehended upon the plane's emergency landing.