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Israel Prepared to Shoot Down FlyDubai Plane After Cockpit Attack
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News18•05-10-2026, 23:55
Israel Prepared to Shoot Down FlyDubai Plane After Cockpit Attack
- •Israel was ready to shoot down a FlyDubai passenger plane over concerns it was a hijacked aircraft nearing its airspace.
- •Fighter jets were scrambled following a cockpit attack that caused the plane to plummet thousands of feet.
- •The co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar during the flight carrying over 150 passengers.
- •The Indian captain successfully opened the cockpit door, enabling crew and passengers to overpower the attacker.
- •The flight ultimately diverted and made a safe emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Key Questions Answered
Israel scrambled fighter jets because the FlyDubai flight experienced a cockpit attack and plunged thousands of feet, raising fears that it was a hijacked aircraft approaching Israeli airspace.
The Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, managed to open the cockpit door after the co-pilot allegedly attacked him, enabling passengers and crew to overpower the attacker before landing safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The flight initially broadcast squawk code 7700 to indicate a serious international emergency, followed shortly by code 7500, which is typically used in situations involving aircraft hijacking or unlawful interference.
