Israeli Transport Minister Blames Security Agencies for Flight Security Lapse

Minister of Transportation Miri Regev stated on Saturday that the responsibility for intelligence screening and vetting foreign flight crews, following an attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight, lies with security agencies, not her ministry. Regev clarified in an interview that the complex issue of aviation security involves intelligence divisions within both the Mossad and the Shin Bet. She explained that the Shin Bet is responsible for Israeli flights, while the Mossad handles foreign airlines, asserting that Flydubai, being a foreign company, falls under the Mossad's purview.

Addressing claims of a background check failure for the pilot involved, Regev emphasized that passenger and crew lists are not sent to the Ministry of Transportation. Instead, intelligence bodies are tasked with identifying crew members. She cited the evacuation of Israelis from Saudi Arabia as an example, noting that her ministry did not approve the flight crews; this approval, including security clearance, was granted by the Mossad.

Regev also highlighted the international nature of aviation security challenges, pointing out that countries like France and the European Union do not screen pilots. She expressed concern about potential future incidents, describing a "new global danger" involving individuals with potential terrorist ties, particularly mentioning concerns about Muslims in London and other countries.

The political-security cabinet is scheduled to convene on Monday to discuss the details of the Flydubai incident investigation, which is being conducted jointly by the Mossad, Shin Bet, and authorities in the United Arab Emirates. Regev confirmed the flight was close to disaster, stating that the plane was descending and the perpetrator attempted to detonate it, but the actions of civilians averted a major catastrophe.