Israel Prepared to Down Flydubai Jet After Hijack Signal, Report Says

Israeli authorities were prepared to shoot down a flydubai jet carrying over 170 passengers after it sent a hijack signal, according to a CBS News report, with the decision requiring prime ministerial approval. The flight from Dubai to Israel plunged nearly 18,000 feet after co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the plane. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled, but the aircraft turned toward Saudi Arabia, where the captain regained control and passengers overpowered the attacker before an emergency landing in Tabuk. Israel's pre-established protocol for rogue flights allows for shooting down an aircraft if contact cannot be established, prioritizing prevention of a 9/11-style attack on high-value targets. Al-Hammami, detained in the UAE, reportedly planned the attack before joining flydubai eight months ago, and investigators are treating it as a likely lone-wolf incident.