Israel Probes Pilot's Alleged Plan to Crash Jet

Israeli security officials are investigating the possibility that a co-pilot intended to hijack a commercial flight and crash it within Israeli territory. The probe comes after Shin Bet Director David Barnia had repeatedly warned for months about security vulnerabilities in flights arriving from the United Arab Emirates. These warnings reportedly led to significant tension between the Shin Bet and Israeli airlines, culminating in a ban on Israeli carriers flying from the UAE due to security concerns.

Simultaneously, authorities are examining a serious suspicion that the co-pilot of the flight in question planned to seize control of the aircraft over Jordanian airspace and rapidly descend to crash it inside Israel. While this line of inquiry is being taken very seriously, security sources emphasize it is a primary but not yet definitive investigative direction. Security officials suggest that stricter security measures, as advocated by Barnia, could have potentially thwarted the alleged attempt.

It is noted that while intelligence agencies had received warnings about increased motivation for aviation attacks, the primary concerns focused on missile strikes or ground-based infrastructure attacks, not a pilot-led hijacking and crash scenario. The Shin Bet's authority is limited to securing flights operated by Israeli companies, while the Mossad handles threats involving foreign airlines.

Further complicating matters, a review is underway regarding how an Omani national, identified as the pilot, received official permission to enter Israel. Security agencies are questioning whether the vetting process for foreign aircrew, which requires rigorous individual security screening, was properly followed. The incident prompted an urgent consultation between the IDF Chief of Staff, the Shin Bet Director, and the Mossad Director.

Upon the flight's landing in Israel, all passengers and crew were immediately debriefed by Shin Bet personnel to reconstruct the events. The flight, carrying 174 passengers, landed safely in Israel after departing from Saudi Arabia following the incident. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among those who greeted the returning passengers.