Israeli Agencies Investigate Oman Air Pilot Incident on Flydubai Flight

An Israeli security official stated that the Ministry of Transportation is responsible for vetting foreign airline crews, as both the Shin Bet and the Mossad are investigating an incident involving an Omani pilot on a Flydubai flight. The official emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages, with the aim of understanding the full circumstances of what occurred on the aircraft. Questions are being raised about the extent of the Ministry of Transportation's checks on Flydubai and Etihad, and whether a security guard was present on the flight, a practice common on flights deemed to require heightened security.

The security source noted that the reason Israeli airlines have not been flying to the UAE is due to the UAE's refusal to allow the operation of Israeli aviation security measures. While flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi previously operated, they were halted when the UAE prevented the use of these measures.

It was also revealed that the Mossad is involved in examining the incident. The security official confirmed that the flight crew consisted of an Omani pilot and an Indian co-pilot, but stressed that the investigation is ongoing and the motive or perpetrator behind the incident remains unknown. The incident occurred when a Flydubai flight bound for Israel was diverted to an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after broadcasting the emergency code 7500, indicating a possible hijacking. Following the alert, Israel initiated emergency procedures and scrambled two Air Force fighter jets.