The Israeli Air Force quickly scrambled fighter jets to escort the hijacked plane as it neared Israel. The aircraft was directed to an airbase near Eilat, a location chosen due to its relative isolation, minimizing the risk to civilians in the event of an incident. The plane landed safely, and Israeli security forces were immediately on the scene to apprehend Jabri.
The Aftermath: Diplomatic Fallout and International Reactions
The hijacking quickly escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis. Iran, through its representative at the United Nations, demanded the immediate return of the plane, its passengers, and the hijacker. The Iranian government accused Israel of holding the passengers hostage and claimed that the incident was part of a broader Zionist conspiracy against the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s condemnation was echoed by Ali Akbar Natiq Nouri, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iran’s Parliament), who publicly denounced Israel’s actions and led a chorus of “Death to Israel” chants in the Parliament. The hijacking became a rallying point for anti-Israel sentiment in Iran, further deepening the animosity between the two nations.