Israel was prepared to consider shooting down a flydubai passenger aircraft carrying more than 150 Israelis after an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit, according to CBS News.

Two Israeli sources with direct knowledge of the situation told the broadcaster that Israel has a long-established procedure for dealing with a possible 9/11-style hijacking and was ready to act if the aircraft posed a threat to populated areas.

The incident occurred last week when the flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was allegedly attacked by co-pilot Hammam Al-Hammami with a crash axe. The aircraft subsequently plunged around 14,000 feet, raising concerns that it could have been taken over.

Israeli Air Force scrambled fighter jets

Following the sudden descent, the Israeli Air Force attempted to establish contact with the cockpit but received no response, according to CBS News.

A command centre was set up and Israeli airspace was closed as fighter jets were scrambled to assess the situation.

The Israeli aircraft were later recalled after the passenger plane changed course towards Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia subsequently scrambled its own fighter jets as the aircraft headed towards its territory.

The situation eventually changed after Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door. Israeli passengers and flydubai personnel then entered the cockpit and restrained the co-pilot.

What would Israel have done?

According to CBS News, Israel has a specific procedure for dealing with an aircraft suspected of being hijacked and maintaining radio silence.

If the aircraft had approached within a certain distance of Ben Gurion International Airport, Israeli fighter jets could have entered Jordanian airspace to intercept and assess the situation.

The pilots would have attempted to establish visual contact with the cockpit and determine what was happening inside the aircraft. Their assessment would then have been relayed to the Israeli Air Force and a pre-established committee.

If the committee determined that the aircraft had been hijacked and the suspected hijackers remained unresponsive, the matter could have been escalated to the Israeli prime minister and defence minister.

Israel has a policy allowing a rogue aircraft to be shot down in extreme circumstances, although only the prime minister can authorise such an action.

The Israeli sources told CBS News that such a decision could be considered if authorities believed the aircraft was likely to crash into a high-value target, including the Azrieli buildings or Ben Gurion Airport.

Co-pilot under investigation in UAE

Al-Hammami is currently in the United Arab Emirates, where he is undergoing a second round of questioning after initially being interrogated by Saudi authorities following the aircraft’s emergency landing.

Israel has sent representatives to the UAE to participate in the investigation.

According to The Jerusalem Post, investigators found that Al-Hammami had researched airlines operating flights to Israel and had visited the country months before the cockpit incident.

“I tried to get hired by all the airlines,” he reportedly told investigators. “I checked which ones flew to Tel Aviv. That’s why I chose flydubai. I planned [the operation] even before I was hired.”

The reports have also raised questions over how Al-Hammami was able to operate a flight to Israel despite concerns about his background. Israel and Oman do not have diplomatic relations, and reports have said that pilots operating flights to Israel are required to hold passports from countries with which Israel maintains diplomatic relations.

The case has also brought scrutiny on Israel’s Mossad and Shin Bet over the vetting process surrounding foreign airline crew members operating flights to the country.