Security Establishment Frustrated Over Dubai Flight Incident, Blames Transport Ministry

The Israeli security establishment is expressing significant frustration following an attempted hijacking of a Flydubai aircraft, attributing blame to the Security Department of the Ministry of Transportation for allegedly ignoring Shin Bet warnings about security lapses at UAE airports. Security officials stated that the Shin Bet had highlighted red flags regarding airport security in the United Arab Emirates, but these were disregarded by the Ministry of Transportation. A security source explained that the Shin Bet is responsible for all security circles of Israeli airlines, including intelligence monitoring, passenger screening, and oversight of crew and ground staff at check-in counters and gates worldwide, maintaining a high, non-negotiable security standard. This strictness, the source noted, led the Head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, to halt Israeli flights from the UAE, a move that should have alerted the Ministry of Transportation to a serious security issue. The source further criticized the ministry for allowing pilots from countries without diplomatic ties with Israel to fly Flydubai planes.

Despite the incident, the security establishment reported that the Shin Bet's insistence led the UAE to acknowledge the security problem at its airports. The UAE has now agreed to the Shin Bet's security demands, paving the way for the resumption of Israeli flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with the Shin Bet set to reopen its security stations at UAE airports. The security establishment clarified that while chartered foreign flights operated by Israeli airlines have different security protocols than those on Israeli aircraft, the Shin Bet screens all crew members, including pilots, flight attendants, and ground mechanics, before approving departures to Israel.

A security source emphasized the need for a comprehensive internal review within the Ministry of Transportation to understand how such a serious breach of security protocols occurred. Concurrently, Israel is conducting its own investigation, led by a team from the Mossad comprising operational personnel from various departments, with assistance from Shin Bet investigators. It is anticipated that UAE authorities will soon permit Israeli investigation teams to enter the country to participate. Investigators are expected to question the pilot, reconstruct his activities in the 24 hours preceding the flight, and review security camera footage, leveraging Dubai's extensive surveillance network. The investigation will also focus on building the pilot's profile by interviewing family, neighbors, and acquaintances, and examining his social media activity and browsing history, with the current assessment suggesting the perpetrator acted as a lone wolf.