A chilling new revelation has emerged from the Flydubai FZ1073 cockpit attack.
According to two Israeli sources cited by CBS News, Israel was prepared for the possibility of shooting down the Boeing 737 MAX 8 if it continued toward Israel and reached a predetermined distance while authorities believed the aircraft had been hijacked.
The Dubai–Tel Aviv flight was carrying 166 Israeli passengers when the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit.
The aircraft then plunged approximately 14,000 feet. Israeli authorities attempted to contact the cockpit but reportedly received no response. Israel activated its established protocol for dealing with a potentially hostile civilian aircraft, scrambled fighter jets and closed its airspace.
Had FZ1073 continued toward Israel, Israeli fighter jets were reportedly prepared to enter Jordanian airspace to intercept and visually inspect the aircraft. The pilots would attempt to establish contact with the cockpit and look for signs that control of the aircraft had been seized.
If the aircraft was determined to have been hijacked, remained unresponsive and continued toward Israel, the decision could ultimately have reached Israel’s defense minister and prime minister.
The situation changed when FZ1073 turned toward Saudi Arabia, roughly 400 miles from Israel. Israeli fighters were recalled, while Saudi Arabia scrambled its own aircraft.
Inside the Boeing 737 MAX 8, Captain Machchhar managed to fight off the alleged attacker and unlock the cockpit door. Israeli passengers and Flydubai crew members then overpowered the alleged attacker, while two off-duty pilots onboard helped take control of the aircraft.
The flight eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
What makes the revelation especially chilling is that Israeli authorities were reportedly preparing for the possibility of having to destroy a passenger aircraft carrying 166 Israeli citizens if it was confirmed to be under hostile control and approaching Israel.
The incident highlights one of aviation’s most terrifying scenarios: an alleged insider attack occurring inside the cockpit, leaving authorities on the ground with only minutes to determine whether a passenger aircraft represents an imminent threat.
