'Fighter jets in air': How Israel prepared for worst-case scenario during flydubai scare
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the plane. Passengers and crew, including an Indian captain, successfully subdued the attacker, preventing a disaster that would have triggered an Israeli military response.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the extreme security risks in aviation and the geopolitical sensitivity of airspace in the Middle East.
NEW DELHI: Israel scrambled fighter jets after a Dubai-Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai aircraft transmitted emergency signals amid an alleged attempt by its co-pilot to crash the plane, but the warplanes did not have to take action as passengers and crew managed to regain control and land safely in Saudi Arabia, Israeli envoy to India Reuven Azar said on Thursday.Speaking to PTI Videos in New Delhi, Azar said Israel's civil aviation authorities, air force and political leadership were immediately alerted after the aircraft reported an emergency.
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