Israel was ready to shoot down FlyDubai flight fearing 9/11-style attack: Report
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Israel was ready to shoot down FlyDubai flight fearing 9/11-style attack: Report")
A FlyDubai plane seen at the Ben Gurion Airport. Photograph: (AFP)
The FlyDubai flight, which became the scene of a terrorist attack, was almost shot down by Israel itself, even though there were more than 150 Israelis on board the plane. A report states that, as per protocol, the country can shoot down rogue planes that threaten a larger population.
Israel was prepared to shoot down the FlyDubai plane that was almost hijacked with more than 150 Israelis on board, CBS News reported, quoting sources. Israel reportedly has a protocol for this kind of possible 9/11-style event, which involves shooting down a plane that could pose a threat to a larger area. Investigators have said that the Omani pilot confessed his intention to crash the plane into the Ben Gurion Airport. If the plane had gotten within a certain distance of Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could have ordered it to be taken down.
The co-pilot attacked the captain of the plane with an axe inside the cockpit last week to gain control of the plane. The plane plummeted 14,000 feet as the pilot lost control. The Captain fought the attacker long enough and was able to open the cockpit door, after which off-duty pilots steadied the jet, while passengers helped subdue the attacker.
Also Read: ‘Not asked to provide information’: What Oman said about Flydubai co-pilot amid Israel’s checks
As the plane plunged, the Israeli Air Force tried to contact the cockpit. Upon receiving no response, a pre-established committee was roused and a command centre established. Israel scrambled fighter jets and closed its airspace. But it called back its jets when it learnt that the plane had diverted to Saudi Arabia when it was about 643 kilometres from Israel.
Israeli jets would have checked inside the plane
Sources told CBS News that if Flight 1073 had gotten within a certain distance, Israeli jets would have entered Jordanian airspace and gotten as close as possible to assess the situation in the cockpit. Then they would have checked in the cabin, and in case of panic on the plane, they would have reported back to the Air Force and the pre-established committee.
Trending Stories
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
If it appeared to be a case of hijacking but with the hijackers silent and making no demands, they would have contacted the defence minister and the prime minister. In this case, Netanyahu is authorised to command forces to shoot down a rogue plane, which could kill many more in crucial government buildings or the airport.
Investigation has shown that the co-pilot was acting alone. He has said that he had planned the attack even before joining FlyDubai.
