Flydubai Co-Pilot Suspected of Plotting to Crash Plane in Israel

Israeli security officials are investigating the possibility that the co-pilot of a Flydubai flight, who allegedly attempted an attack, intended to hijack the aircraft over Jordan and crash it into Israeli territory. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) had previously warned for months that the security measures on flights from the UAE were insufficient, according to Channel 12 news. In the weeks leading up to the incident, a significant dispute occurred between the Shin Bet and Israeli airlines regarding a ban imposed by the agency on flights from the UAE due to security concerns. Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar's demand for enhanced security measures could have been relevant in this case and potentially helped thwart the attempted attack. While the Shin Bet is responsible for security on Israeli flights, the Mossad is tasked with thwarting threats on foreign airline flights. Despite intelligence indicating a dramatic rise in terror alerts, the primary concerns were focused on other scenarios, such as missile fire or attacks at airports, not an aircraft hijacking. In July, the Shin Bet had prohibited Israeli airlines from landing in Dubai until the end of October, citing regional security tensions and fears of escalation with Iran. Following the attempted attack, Flydubai announced a six-day suspension of its flights to Israel. In contrast, El Al and Arkia stated their intention to resume flights to Israel in November under heightened security protocols.