Israel readied fighter jets to down FlyDubai flight after cockpit attack

During a FlyDubai flight heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the co-pilot attacked the captain by stabbing him as the aircraft approached Israeli airspace. Israeli authorities immediately triggered a pre-established anti-hijack protocol, attempting cockpit contact, establishing a command centre, and scrambling fighter jets while sealing the sky. When the plane altered its course toward Saudi Arabia, the jets were ordered to stand down and Saudi forces scrambled their own aircraft.

A group of Israeli passengers, together with two off-duty pilots on board, subdued the co-pilot, enabling the captain to regain control and execute an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Sources explained that had the plane entered a critical distance, Israel would have considered shooting it down, a decision reserved for the prime minister to prevent potential mass casualties at key sites. The co-pilot is now detained in the United Arab Emirates for further interrogation, and Israeli representatives have joined the ongoing investigation.