Israel was ready to shoot down Flydubai jet if it kept flying towards Tel Aviv: Reports

Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked Machchhar with a crash axe during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, according to UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al Shamsi. Reports said the Omani pilot attempted to take control of the aircraft.

The plane, carrying 182 people, subsequently made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after passengers and crew members reportedly subdued the alleged attacker.

The incident has drawn international attention, particularly following reports about Hammami's alleged past extremist views and online activity.

Two Israeli sources with direct knowledge of the situation told CBS News that Israel was prepared to shoot down the Flydubai aircraft after the captain was attacked in the cockpit, even though more than 150 Israelis were reportedly on board.

Israel has a long-standing procedure for dealing with a potential 9/11-style scenario, the sources told the news channel.

According to CBS News, the aircraft plunged 14,000 feet after the attack, prompting the Israeli Air Force to try to establish contact with the cockpit. However, there was no response.

A pre-established emergency mechanism was activated and a command centre was set up to coordinate the response.

Fighter jets were scrambled and Israeli airspace was closed. However, the jets were called back after authorities realised that the aircraft, about 400 miles from Israel, had turned towards Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia subsequently scrambled its own fighter jets, CBS News reported.

If Flight 1073 had come within a certain distance of Israel, Israeli fighter jets would have entered Jordanian airspace to investigate, the sources told CBS News.

The Israeli pilots would have approached the aircraft as closely as possible to inspect the cockpit and attempt to establish visual contact with those inside to assess the situation.

They would then have relayed their findings to the Israeli Air Force and a pre-established committee, particularly if they determined that the situation posed a serious threat.

The protocol reportedly allows for a rogue aircraft approaching Israel to be shot down, although only the prime minister has the authority to make such a decision, according to the American newspaper cited in the reports.

The Israeli sources told CBS News that shooting down the passenger aircraft could be considered preferable to the possibility of hundreds of people being killed if a rogue plane crashed into a major Israeli target, such as the Azrieli towers, Ben Gurion Airport or another "high-value target."

The crisis ended after Machchhar, despite suffering severe injuries in the alleged axe attack, managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers then intervened and overpowered the Omani co-pilot.

Two off-duty pilots who were travelling aboard the aircraft subsequently took control of the plane and diverted it to Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.