Israel Prepared to Shoot Down Hijacked Plane With 150 Citizens Aboard

Israel was prepared to shoot down a Flydubai passenger plane carrying over 150 of its citizens during an attempted hijacking last week, according to CBS News. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held sole authority to order the downing as the aircraft lost radio contact and plunged toward Israeli territory. The plane's Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency axe during the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. Intelligence suspected the target was Ben Gurion Airport or a Tel Aviv skyscraper, potentially an "Israeli 9/11." Fighter jets were scrambled, but the plane turned toward Saudi Arabia about 650 kilometers from the border before any order was given. The severely injured captain, Smit Machchhar, fought back and was aided by crew and passengers who overpowered the attacker. The plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Al-Hammami had previously been moved to administrative duties in Oman Air over radicalization concerns, and the incident has triggered security reviews of pilot vetting procedures.