Arab Affairs Expert: Flydubai Incident Likely State-Sponsored, Not Terror Group

Zvi Yehezkeli, i24NEWS's Arab affairs commentator and a former airline security guard, believes the attempted attack on a Flydubai flight was a state-sponsored operation rather than the work of a terrorist organization. Yehezkeli suggested that Iran or its proxies could be behind the incident, emphasizing the significant planning required to recruit and infiltrate a pilot for such a mission.

He described the event as a security breach, noting that while Israeli aviation security is known for its robustness, this incident indicates a vulnerability that a state could exploit. Yehezkeli pointed out that convincing a pilot to act against prevailing trends and placing them on a flight with Israelis requires sophisticated planning.

Yehezkeli also highlighted that Arab destinations like Dubai present unique security challenges. He expressed concern about pilots whose airlines might support such actions, and speculated about the potential for similar incidents involving European pilots sympathetic to Palestinian causes. He stressed the need to close this security loophole.

Recalling Israel's pioneering role in aviation security since the 1970s, Yehezkeli stated that while Israel has historically closed security gaps, this particular breach, potentially involving pilots previously dismissed from European airlines and now working in the Middle East, requires immediate attention and closure.