Stories
Israel Prepared to Shoot Down Flydubai Jet After Cockpit Attack
- •Israel considered shooting down a flydubai flight carrying over 150 Israelis after an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian captain with a crash axe.
- •The aircraft suffered a sudden 14,000-foot plunge and went silent, prompting the Israeli Air Force to scramble fighter jets and close Israeli airspace.
- •The plane changed course toward Saudi Arabia where the co-pilot was eventually restrained by passengers and crew after the captain regained control of the cockpit door.
- •Israeli policy allows a rogue aircraft to be shot down in extreme circumstances to prevent attacks on high-value targets, requiring authorization from the prime minister.
- •The co-pilot is currently under investigation in the United Arab Emirates after admitting he planned the operation prior to being hired by the airline.
Key Questions Answered
Israel considered shooting down the flydubai aircraft after an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian captain with a crash axe, causing a 14,000-foot plunge and radio silence. Under established procedures for potential 9/11-style hijackings, action would have been taken if the unresponsive plane posed a threat to populated areas or high-value targets like Ben Gurion Airport.
The situation de-escalated after captain Smit Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door. Israeli passengers and flydubai personnel then entered the cockpit and successfully restrained the co-pilot.
Investigators found that co-pilot Hammam Al-Hammami had researched airlines operating flights to Israel and intentionally chosen flydubai after trying to get hired by various airlines. He admitted to planning the operation months before he was even hired.
