Israel was reportedly prepared to take extreme action against a Flydubai passenger aircraft after an alleged attack in the cockpit created fears that the plane could be used as a weapon, according to a report by CBS News.
The incident involved Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft was carrying 182 people, most of them Israeli passengers. During the flight, Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
According to reports, the aircraft subsequently went into a steep descent and lost thousands of feet in a short period. Israeli authorities attempted to establish communication with the cockpit but initially received no response. The situation raised concerns that the aircraft could be involved in a deliberate hijacking or attack.
CBS News, citing two Israeli sources with direct knowledge of the situation, reported that Israel activated an established emergency procedure for a potentially hostile passenger aircraft. Fighter jets were scrambled and Israeli airspace was temporarily closed as authorities assessed the situation.
The reported protocol includes the possibility of destroying a rogue aircraft if authorities determine that it has been hijacked and poses an imminent threat to people on the ground. According to the CBS report, the final decision to shoot down such an aircraft would rest with the Israeli prime minister.
However, the Flydubai aircraft was not shot down.
The situation changed when the aircraft turned away from Israel and headed towards Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities also responded to the incident, and Saudi fighter aircraft were reportedly scrambled. Israeli authorities then recalled their own fighter jets after determining that the aircraft was no longer approaching Israeli territory.
The aircraft eventually landed safely at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia. Accounts from passengers and officials indicate that the captain was able to fight back against the co-pilot and unlock the cockpit door. Israeli passengers, Flydubai crew members and others then helped overpower the alleged attacker.
Two off-duty pilots who were travelling on the aircraft also helped regain control of the flight. Their involvement allowed the aircraft to be brought under control before the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The incident has since triggered an international investigation involving authorities in several countries. Hamam al-Hammami is being held in the United Arab Emirates, where investigators are questioning him about the alleged attack and his background.
Israeli officials have said that investigators are examining whether the incident was a lone-wolf attack. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not established a wider militant network connected to the incident. The Associated Press reported that the investigation had not found a confirmed connection between the suspect and a militant organisation at the time of its report.
Reports have also raised questions about how the co-pilot was able to operate an Israel-bound flight. According to AP reporting, al-Hammami had previously worked for Oman Air and had reportedly been moved away from flying duties after concerns about extremist views. He later joined Flydubai. The details surrounding his employment history and security screening are part of the wider investigation.
The case has attracted particular attention because Israel has strict aviation security procedures for flights entering its airspace. The country has long prepared for the possibility that a civilian aircraft could be hijacked and deliberately used to attack a major population centre or strategic location.
The reported emergency response illustrates how such procedures can be activated when an aircraft becomes unresponsive and appears to be behaving unpredictably. According to CBS News, Israeli authorities first attempted to determine whether the aircraft was experiencing a technical problem, a communication failure or a deliberate takeover. Fighter aircraft were then scrambled as part of the response.
The reported possibility of shooting down the passenger aircraft has attracted considerable attention because of the number of people on board. More than 170 passengers and crew were aboard, and most passengers were reportedly Israeli. Any decision to destroy the aircraft would therefore have involved a severe risk to those on board.
Israeli officials reportedly considered the possibility that an aircraft under hostile control could cause much larger casualties if it reached a major target. The reported protocol therefore involves assessing the aircraft's behaviour, attempting visual identification and determining whether the plane is under hostile control before any final decision is considered.
The incident also highlights the importance of the actions taken by the flight crew and passengers. The captain's resistance reportedly prevented the co-pilot from maintaining complete control of the cockpit. Once the cockpit door was opened, passengers and crew members were able to intervene and restrain the attacker.
The aircraft's eventual diversion to Saudi Arabia prevented the situation from developing into a direct threat to Israel. The emergency landing in Tabuk also allowed Saudi authorities to take control of the security situation and detain the suspect.
Further reports about the investigation have suggested that al-Hammami may have planned the alleged attack before joining Flydubai. CBS News reported that an Israeli official said the suspect told UAE interrogators that he had planned an attack before being employed by the airline and had intended to crash the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport. These claims remain part of an ongoing investigation and should not be treated as independently established facts.
The investigation is also examining the suspect's previous employment and whether warning signs were adequately identified before he was allowed to operate an international passenger flight. AP reported that officials in the region were investigating his background and the circumstances under which he was hired by Flydubai.
The Flydubai incident has therefore become both an aviation security investigation and a wider international security issue. Authorities are examining the alleged cockpit attack, the suspect's motives, his employment history and the security procedures that allowed him to operate the flight.
For Israel, the incident also demonstrated how quickly its air-defence and aviation security systems can be activated when a passenger aircraft behaves unexpectedly near its territory. For Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the case has raised questions about the security screening of aviation personnel and the coordination required when an aircraft becomes involved in a potential hijacking.
Importantly, the reported shoot-down plan was not carried out. The aircraft changed course, the cockpit was regained, the attacker was subdued and the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. The investigation is continuing, and additional details about the suspect's motive and security background may emerge as authorities complete their inquiries.
