Israel scrambled fighter jets after flydubai cockpit attack, fearing a potential 9/11-style threat
Israel activated a long-established protocol for a potential 9/11-style incident after the aircraft plunged about 14,000 feet, according to the sources cited by CBS.
The protocol allows for the aircraft to be “shot down”, with the final decision resting with the prime minister, according to the sources. Israeli officials told CBS that the suspected attacker, identified by sources as Omani national Hamam al Hamami, allegedly told UAE investigators that he had planned the attack before joining Flydubai and intended to crash the plane at Ben Gurion Airport. An Israeli official also said he had previously travelled to Israel.
The Israeli air force attempted to contact the cockpit but received no response. Under the Israeli protocol, if a passenger aircraft was determined to be hijacked, remained unresponsive by radio and continued towards Israel without making demands, the matter would be escalated to the defence minister and prime minister. An early Israeli assessment indicated that the attempted hijacking was likely a lone-wolf attack, though the investigation remains ongoing and other possibilities are still being examined.