Confusion Over Responsibility for Foreign Flight Security Amidst Near-Disaster

A recent incident involving a Flydubai flight, where the pilot allegedly attempted to crash the plane, has exposed significant gaps and confusion regarding responsibility for the security of foreign flights entering Israel. Despite the pilot's actions being thwarted by the crew and passengers, questions linger about why warning signs were missed. Reports indicate the pilot had flown to Israel previously, and his details were known to the Shin Bet and the Ministry of Transportation. Flydubai itself confirmed that it had provided crew lists to Israel in advance.

The Ministry of Transportation, through its Security, Emergency, and Cyber Division, is officially responsible for setting and enforcing security standards for all transport services to and from Israel, including the security assessment of foreign flights and providing directives to airlines. However, Minister Miri Regev stated that the ministry lacks the intelligence and investigative capabilities to conduct background checks on pilots of foreign airlines, asserting that such responsibilities lie with security agencies.

Regev clarified that security agencies, including the Mossad and Shin Bet, are responsible for assessing threat levels and issuing security guidelines. She explained that the Shin Bet handles security for Israeli and chartered flights, while the Mossad is responsible for foreign flights. The Ministry of Transportation, she added, acts upon these directives and relays security requirements to airlines.

Adding to the complexity, a law passed in April 2023, the "Law on Powers to Collect and Analyze Passenger Data Entering or Leaving Israel," designated the Tax Authority to receive and safeguard passenger and crew data. This law also established a channel for security bodies, including the Mossad, Shin Bet, and police, to access this information. Despite these measures, it remains unclear how the information about the pilot's past behavior, including his alleged religious extremism that led to flight suspensions in Oman, was not connected by any of the involved agencies.

The article suggests a systemic failure, with multiple entities potentially able to prevent the incident. This includes the airline itself, which is expected to vet its pilots, the Ministry of Transportation, and security and tax authorities who received relevant information. The core issue, the report concludes, is the lack of a single, clear entity responsible for such critical security assessments, leading to a situation where "too many hands are on the wheel."