Israel Received Flydubai Crew List Before Hijacking Attempt, Report Says

Israel received the crew and passenger list for a Flydubai flight prior to an incident where a co-pilot attempted to hijack the plane, according to a report by the newspaper Haaretz. The revelation raises questions about the security vetting process for foreign airline crews arriving in Israel.

Security sources cited by Haaretz indicated that the responsibility for vetting foreign flight crews typically falls to the security department of the Ministry of Transport and the Mossad intelligence agency. These bodies are expected to review lists of arriving crew members for any security concerns.

The Israel Tax Authority confirmed it received the passenger and crew manifest for the Flydubai flight. The Ministry of Transport did not confirm whether it had received and reviewed the list before the flight's arrival.

A passenger list screening unit was established within the Tax Authority by a law passed in 2023, mandating the transfer of passenger and crew data to security entities, including the Shin Bet, police, and Mossad, for risk assessment. Airlines are required by this law to submit data, including full names and nationalities, 48 hours before a flight, meaning the Omani co-pilot's nationality should have been apparent.

Security sources told Haaretz that while the Ministry of Transport is "on paper" responsible for security, it lacks the necessary intelligence capabilities, which are held by the Mossad and Shin Bet. Isaac Raz, former head of the Civil Aviation Authority, stated that the Ministry of Transport bears security responsibility for foreign airlines, with assistance from the Shin Bet and Mossad, and that vetting pilots and crew is part of this duty. The disclosure follows the attempted hijacking incident, which has spurred discussion on security procedures for foreign airline personnel.