Israel Launches Urgent Pilot Checks After Flydubai Incident

Israel has initiated an urgent review of foreign airline flight crews following reports that pilots from Iran, Syria, and Iraq may have previously flown into the country. The authorities are investigating whether individuals holding citizenship from Iran, Syria, Iraq, or other hostile nations are operating flights to Israel. According to Channel 12, such pilots might have entered and exited Israel in recent years, potentially using dual citizenship and passports from non-hostile countries. Israel is now expediting checks on foreign airline crews, with unnamed international organizations reportedly assisting in identifying potential security threats. The article also references a previous report about Assaf Rajwan, an Israeli passenger who recounted his experience during an incident on a Flydubai flight. Rajwan described how passengers collaborated to neutralize an attacker, with some maintaining contact with Israeli security services, sharing internet access, tracking the plane's GPS, and even using headphone wires to restrain the assailant. He noted that an Australian passenger was crucial in establishing communication with Israel while the plane was over Saudi Arabia.