Israeli Document Reveals Years of Failures in Foreign Flight Security

An internal Israeli document has exposed a long-standing systemic failure in securing foreign flights operating in Israel, dating back years. These failures include a lack of personnel, authority, and resources, with responsibility continually being shifted between security agencies and the Ministry of Transportation.

In July 2021, the Israeli cabinet decided to transfer the responsibility for securing foreign airlines flying to and from Israel from the Shin Bet security agency to the Ministry of Transportation. This transfer included verifying security arrangements in foreign countries. However, the NSC document explicitly states that the Ministry of Transportation is "not operating within the framework of the decision." A secret report by the State Comptroller in May 2024 also highlighted this issue.

In response to these findings, the cabinet decided in May 2024 to form a task force led by the NSC, including the Ministry of Transportation, Civil Aviation Authority, Shin Bet, Mossad, and Ministry of Finance, to examine and recommend changes to the civil aviation security system. During discussions, the NSC and Shin Bet pushed for the Ministry of Transportation to assume security responsibility, with the Shin Bet citing insufficient resources and budget to continue handling the matter.

However, professional officials within the Ministry of Transportation opposed the transfer of responsibility. Sources indicate that all professional staff in the ministry, except for the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority Shmuel Zakai, opposed the transfer. Minister of Transportation Miri Regev warned that taking on this responsibility would be a "grave mistake." Despite these objections, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ultimately decided in mid-2025 to permanently transfer responsibility to the Ministry of Transportation.

Despite the transfer, the ministry's security department reportedly did not request assistance from the Shin Bet or Mossad for security checks of flight crews or passengers for about a year and a half, even though they admitted lacking the necessary tools, authority, and budget.

These security gaps were linked to a recent incident involving Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Israel, which diverted to Saudi Arabia after an incident in the cockpit. Investigations are ongoing to uncover further details and potential accomplices. Israeli security agencies are focusing on the co-pilot, leaving the examination of other crew members to UAE authorities.

They stated that Flydubai received clear instructions regarding crew background checks, but the crew list for flight FZ1073 was not provided to them, and the security department does not have access to flight lists.