Israel was ready to shoot down flydubai jet if it continued towards Tel Aviv: Report

Israel scrambled fighter jets and prepared for the possibility of shooting down the flydubai plane if it continued towards Tel Aviv following the cockpit stabbing attack, a CBS News report said.On September 30, Flight 1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar and attempted to take control of the aircraft.The plane subsequently plunged 16,000 feet in just over 30 seconds, prompting fears in Israel that it could be a hijacking or an attack targeting the country.According to the CBS News report, the Israeli Air Force tried to establish contact with the cockpit but received no response. A pre-existing emergency mechanism was activated, a command centre was set up and Israeli airspace was closed as fighter jets were scrambled. The Israeli jets were later recalled after authorities determined that the aircraft had changed course towards Saudi Arabia and was heading for an emergency landing.Saudi Arabia also scrambled fighter jets, CBS News reported. Had the aircraft continued towards Tel Aviv, Israeli fighter pilots were prepared to approach it and attempt to make visual contact with those inside the cockpit, according to the report.The aim would have been to assess whether the aircraft had been hijacked and determine the nature of the emergency.CBS News reported that if a hijacking had been confirmed and there was no response from the attackers, the matter could have been escalated to Israel's Defence Minister and Prime Minister.The final authority to order the aircraft shot down would have rested with the Prime Minister.Israeli sources told CBS News that, had the hijacking succeeded, and the aircraft continued towards Israel, officials believed it could have been intercepted before reaching Tel Aviv to prevent a potential attack on sensitive targets, including Ben Gurion Airport or the Azrieli Centre.The crisis ultimately ended after Machchhar, despite being severely injured after he was attacked with a crash axe, managed to open the cockpit door.Passengers intervened and overpowered al-Hammami, while two off-duty pilots aboard the aircraft took control and diverted the plane to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.- Ends