Israel to Vet Foreign Pilots Flying to the Country After Dubai Incident

Following an incident aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to crash the plane, Israeli authorities are planning to implement new security measures. Passengers and crew members reportedly subdued the co-pilot, and other pilots on board managed to land the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia. Israeli officials are investigating the possibility of a terrorist motive, though the airline has cautioned against premature conclusions, and the investigation in Saudi Arabia is ongoing.

The incident has raised concerns about aviation security, specifically the potential threat originating from within the cockpit. While commercial pilots undergo extensive screening, including licensing, medical checks, and background reviews, predicting future behavior remains a challenge. European regulations were tightened after the 2015 Germanwings crash, mandating psychological assessments for pilots. The U.S. also has a comprehensive system of medical and psychological evaluations and uses a Pilot Records Database to review past performance.

Currently, Israeli regulations cover local crew members with periodic medical tests and criminal background checks. However, foreign pilots operating flights to Israel are primarily subject to the regulations of their home countries and airlines. In response to the Flydubai event, the Prime Minister's office announced that Israel intends to expand its vetting process to include foreign pilots flying to the country, aiming to conduct a security check before they arrive.

Implementing this new measure presents practical challenges, including determining the scope of information required from airlines, the timeline for checks, the depth of the investigation, and the consequences for pilots who might not pass the Israeli security review. The added procedures could also impose operational costs on airlines, particularly those with frequent flights to Israel. The effectiveness of increased screening is also debated, as psychological assessments can identify warning signs but not definitively predict future actions, and a system that penalizes pilots for seeking mental health support could discourage them from reporting issues.