Tel Aviv: Israel was prepared to shoot down a FlyDubai passenger plane carrying more than 150 Israelis after its co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, according to the reports.
The incident involved Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. The aircraft plunged more than 16,000 feet in around 30 seconds after Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe.
Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, after which passengers and crew overpowered Hammami. Two off-duty pilots then took control, and the aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, according to reports.
Israeli reports said the Air Force scrambled fighter jets after losing contact with the cockpit and closed Israeli airspace. Under Israel’s established protocol, if a rogue aircraft approached within a certain distance, fighters could enter Jordanian airspace to assess the cockpit and passengers.
If it was confirmed as a hijacking and the aircraft remained silent without demands, the defence minister and prime minister would be consulted.
The prime minister alone could authorise a shootdown to prevent a crash into targets including Ben Gurion Airport or Tel Aviv’s Azrieli buildings.
JD Vance Raises Aviation Security Concerns
US Vice President JD Vance said Hammami had reportedly been identified as a problem before joining FlyDubai and questioned how he was allowed to fly.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Oman had previously flagged his alleged radical online activity, removed him from flying duties and placed him in a deradicalisation programme.
Vance said US authorities were reviewing aviation security procedures, while noting there was no conclusive evidence of Iranian involvement.
