Israel's Transport Ministry Under Fire for Aviation Security Lapses
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's Ministry of Transport failed to enforce rules on foreign airline crews.
- Dozens of Omani pilots reportedly landed in Israel on Flydubai flights.
- Shin Bet and State Comptroller had previously warned of aviation security gaps.
- Minister Miri Regev denies responsibility, blaming intelligence agencies.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged a security breach and promised action.
- New security checks for all pilots flying to Israel will be implemented.
An investigation into security failures that allowed an Omani pilot to fly on a Flydubai flight to Israel has revealed significant shortcomings within the Ministry of Transport. Israel requires foreign airlines to not assign crew members from countries with which it does not have relations, but this rule has not been enforced.
Reports indicate that dozens of Omani pilots have landed in Israel on Flydubai flights in recent years. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged a "breach" and stated that it is being addressed. Furthermore, the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, had warned for months about security concerns on flights from the Emirates.
According to the report, the Ministry of Transport, under Minister Miri Regev, is responsible for overseeing foreign airlines operating in Israel. Despite a rule requiring pilots to be from countries with diplomatic relations with Israel, this was not enforced, leading to Omani pilots landing in Ben Gurion Airport. Both the State Comptroller and the head of the Shin Bet had issued warnings prior to the incident.
Former head of the Civil Aviation Administration, Yitzhak Raz, stated that the Ministry of Transport is responsible for the security aspects of foreign airlines, with assistance from the Shin Bet and Mossad, and that this was not executed properly. Minister Regev, however, has distanced herself from responsibility, claiming the necessary lists were not received by her ministry and that intelligence agencies are responsible for verification.
Prime Minister's Office spokesperson Doron Spielman announced that moving forward, the identity of every pilot flying to Israel will be known and they will undergo security checks, implying this was not done previously. A law from 2023 requires full crew lists and nationalities to be submitted 48 hours before a flight, but it remains unclear if the Ministry of Transport received and reviewed them.
In response to the incident, Regev blamed Flydubai for violating the aviation agreement by using an Omani pilot and demanded the suspension of the airline's flights to Israel pending investigation.
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