Israel's Transport Ministry Addresses Flydubai Security Lapse

Dvir Rubinstein, Director of the Aviation Security Operations Center at Israel's Ministry of Transport, addressed the security incident on a Flydubai flight last week. He stated that the event is still under multi-system investigation and a ministerial-level discussion is scheduled for Monday. The primary investigation is being conducted by Emirati authorities in Dubai, with a team interviewing the pilot and crew. In Israel, a comprehensive review with relevant parties will be held at the Ministry of Transport, led by Minister Miri Regev.

Rubinstein clarified that the Ministry of Transport's security wing is a regulatory body, not an intelligence agency, tasked with ensuring other countries and airlines meet standards. For foreign flights, Israel relies on the security arrangements of the country of origin. Flydubai had committed to ensuring all its crews passed security background checks required by the UAE's competent authority and that flight crews to Israel would only hold passports from countries with diplomatic relations with Israel.

Regarding a State Comptroller's report on aviation security, Rubinstein noted that some deficiencies have been addressed by the Ministry, while others fall under the responsibility of the National Insurance Institute. Rubinstein concluded that if security commitments are violated by airlines, the Ministry will take appropriate action.