Israeli jets prepared to down FlyDubai plane after co-pilot attack

Israel was prepared to shoot down a FlyDubai airliner after a co-pilot attacked the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The plane dropped 4.3 kilometers before Israeli forces lost radio contact. Israeli authorities activated a protocol for potentially hostile civilian aircraft, scrambled fighter jets, and closed airspace. The jets were recalled after the plane turned toward Saudi Arabia, which also scrambled its own fighters. Passengers and off-duty pilots subdued the attacker and made an emergency landing in Tabuk. Under Israeli protocol, fighter pilots would have visually inspected the cockpit and cabin for signs of hijacking. If confirmed hostile, the defense minister and prime minister would have made the final decision on shooting down the aircraft.