WASHINGTON: Israel reportedly prepared to intercept and, if necessary, shoot down a Flydubai passenger aircraft traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv after the flight made a sudden and dangerous dive and the cockpit failed to respond to attempts to establish contact, amid concerns over a possible security threat.
According to intelligence sources cited by U.S. broadcaster CBS News, Israeli authorities feared the possibility of a security incident similar to the September 11, 2001, attacks. The Israeli Air Force attempted to contact the aircraft after it suddenly entered a steep descent, but received no response from the cockpit.
Israeli Emergency War Room and Fighter Jets Scrambled
Amid the escalating situation, a special committee was reportedly formed and a command center was established, while Israel temporarily closed its airspace as a precaution. Israeli fighter jets were also scrambled to intercept the aircraft.
However, after it became clear that the plane was heading toward Saudi Arabia—where the Saudi Air Force had also scrambled aircraft—Israel recalled its fighter jets.
Who Had the Final Authority to Shoot Down the Plane?
According to the sources, if the aircraft had continued approaching Israeli territory, Israeli fighter pilots were expected to move closer to determine what was happening inside the cockpit. Their assessment would then have been relayed to senior authorities.
If it had been established that the aircraft had been hijacked, the final authority to order the plane shot down reportedly rested solely with the Israeli prime minister.
The extreme measure was intended to prevent the aircraft from crashing into Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv’s iconic Azrieli Center, or any other highly sensitive national site.
