By Roy Denish.
New claims surrounding Flydubai FZ 1073 suggest Israeli forces were prepared to intercept the aircraft if it remained uncontrolled.
New investigative details have emerged regarding the reported near-disaster aboard Flydubai Flight FZ 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, including claims that Israeli security forces were prepared to intercept and potentially shoot down the passenger jet had it continued on an uncontrolled trajectory towards a high-value target.
According to intelligence and security sources, Israeli protocols reportedly provide for the interception of unauthorised or unresponsive aircraft approaching sensitive national airspace or major urban centres, including areas around Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport.
Under such emergency protocols, reports indicate that final authorisation for the destruction of a civilian aircraft would rest at the highest levels of government.
Security planners reportedly concluded that shooting down the aircraft could have become a catastrophic necessity if it had appeared likely to be deliberately crashed into a densely populated area.
Background to the Incident
The crisis reportedly unfolded when the flight, carrying approximately 170 to 180 passengers and crew, experienced a violent mid-air struggle inside the cockpit.
Investigators have alleged that the co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, attacked and stabbed the captain, Smit Machchhar, before the Boeing 737 entered a rapid descent of more than 14,000 feet in less than a minute.
Crew members and off-duty personnel reportedly intervened, helped overpower the alleged attacker, and assisted in stabilising the aircraft.
The flight subsequently diverted and made an emergency landing, after which the suspect was reportedly detained.
The incident has prompted renewed discussion across the international aviation sector about cockpit-security procedures, crew background screening, and protocols governing access to the flight deck.
