Flydubai Plane Incident Highlights Israel's Security Lapses

An incident involving a Flydubai plane, where a pilot allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft, has exposed significant security and regulatory failures within Israel's transportation sector. The author, identified as a former senior Shin Bet official and head of national resilience at the Institute for Policy and Strategy at Reichman University, argues that such an event should not have been surprising given Israel's pervasive "it'll be fine" culture and the government's lack of strategic planning.

The Ministry of Transport, headed by Miri Regev, is solely responsible for approving aviation agreements and regulating foreign airlines operating in Israel. The article states that neither the Shin Bet nor the Mossad are involved in the security aspects of foreign airlines flying to and from Israel. While the Shin Bet is responsible for securing Israeli flights, its authority does not extend to foreign carriers. The Ministry of Transport, despite being aware of security concerns, allegedly failed to act, prioritizing commercial and political considerations over safety.

According to the article, there is no mechanism in place to vet or approve foreign pilots flying to Israel, a loophole that has existed for years without resolution. Even though the Shin Bet had previously deemed flight security from Gulf states insufficient, preventing Israeli airlines from flying to Dubai, this did not prompt action regarding foreign airlines. The author criticizes the reactive approach to security, where problems are only addressed after an incident occurs.

Looking ahead, the article suggests that Israel needs to establish a joint team from the Ministry of Transport, Shin Bet, and Mossad to assess risks associated with foreign airlines and countries. New aviation agreements should include basic security requirements and verification mechanisms. While vetting foreign pilots is proposed, the author expresses doubt about its feasibility due to resource constraints. Ultimately, the article concludes that without significant political incentive, it is unlikely that strategic solutions to aviation security issues will be implemented, especially given existing transportation problems in Israel.