Israel Investigates Security Gaps After Attempted Hijacking
Israeli lawmakers probe security lapses after Omani co-pilot attempted to hijack Flydubai flight.
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Israeli lawmakers are examining security failures following the attempted hijacking of an Israel-bound Flydubai flight, which raised serious questions about the vetting of foreign airline crew members. Over the past year, more than 1,200 aircrew members from nations without diplomatic ties to Israel have reportedly entered the country, according to leaked information from a closed-door Knesset committee meeting.
Security Concerns Over Foreign Crews
The Times of Israel reported that the details about the influx of foreign aircrew were disclosed during a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The meeting was convened to address possible security gaps that may have contributed to the attempted hijacking of flight FZ1073, which was allegedly carried out by an Omani co-pilot.
According to the leaked information, approximately 1,240 individuals with dual citizenship, including Lebanese and Syrian passport holders, have entered Israel. A former worker at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport revealed that he had personally observed aircrew members from hostile countries, including pilots and flight attendants, presenting passports from nations with which Israel has no diplomatic relations.
“Even then, we didn’t understand how pilots from hostile countries could fly to Israel,” the former worker told N12 News Israel. The worker also mentioned that some crew members were denied entry due to their second passports from enemy or hostile states.
Aviation Agreement and Security Measures
Under the aviation agreement governing Flydubai’s service to Israel, pilots operating flights into the country must hold passports from countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. This rule became a focal point of the investigation following the attempted hijacking, which was ultimately stopped by an Indian pilot and several Israeli passengers.
Israeli officials questioned how an Omani co-pilot, whose country does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, was able to join the crew of a flight bound for Ben Gurion Airport. Doron Spielman, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, stated that going forward, Israel will seek to identify all pilots flying into the country and conduct enhanced security screenings.
“Our job right now is to do our best — even if they’re not on Israeli airlines — to make sure that those security procedures are much higher,” Spielman said. The incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter oversight and greater transparency in the vetting of foreign aircrew members.
Source: Daily Wire
