Dramatic new details have emerged from Wednesday’s terrifying incident aboard the Flydubai flight bound for Israel, revealing that authorities understood in real time that they were dealing with far more than a routine aviation emergency.

According to a report by Kan News, Jordanian authorities alerted Israel that the pilot had communicated that he was being hijacked.

Israeli officials therefore understood that the warning was based on direct communication with the pilot — and not merely an emergency transponder code transmitted by the aircraft.

The report sheds new light on the extraordinary military response that unfolded across the region as the drama played out aboard the aircraft.

Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled, while Jordan and Saudi Arabia also launched fighter aircraft as authorities in all three countries prepared for the possibility that the incident could develop into a major airborne security threat.

Approximately half an hour into the emergency, Israeli authorities reportedly began receiving indications that there were likely wounded people aboard the aircraft.

The flight had been traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a violent confrontation erupted inside the cockpit. Israeli officials say the Omani co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft. The plane subsequently lost altitude rapidly before passengers and other pilots aboard the flight intervened and the aircraft was brought back under control.

The attacking co-pilot had reportedly joined Flydubai only nine months ago.

The aircraft ultimately made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the suspect was taken into custody and the wounded captain received medical treatment.

Meanwhile, additional details have emerged regarding Israel’s efforts to bring the stranded passengers home from Saudi Arabia.

According to i24NEWS, Israeli diplomatic and security officials initially believed Riyadh would permit an Israeli civilian rescue aircraft to enter the kingdom and retrieve the passengers.

El Al submitted a proposal to operate the emergency flight, while the Israeli Air Force also raised the possibility of sending an aircraft.

Officials even considered dispatching an unmarked aircraft in an effort to overcome the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding an Israeli plane landing in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia ultimately refused to authorize the Israeli rescue flight.

The passengers were instead brought home aboard a separate Flydubai flight, which landed safely at Ben Gurion Airport Wednesday evening.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)