State Comptroller Warned of Aviation Security Flaws Years Before Flydubai Incident

More than two years before a near-disaster on a Flydubai flight, Israel's State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman had warned of failures in foreign aviation security and recommended a review of the system. The incident has reignited questions about why such recommendations are often ignored. In 2021, the State Comptroller's office examined international civil aviation security to and from Israel. While the Knesset's State Audit Committee placed a secrecy order on the main findings, the Comptroller's office highlighted the recommendation made in the report's conclusion. The office recommended that the National Insurance Institute, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation, the Airports Authority, the Shin Bet, and the police, conduct a comprehensive review of international aviation security in Israel. This review was to encompass outgoing flights from Israel, Israeli flights abroad, and incoming foreign flights. The Comptroller also advised reassessing the relevance of government and cabinet decisions on the matter, some of which dated back to the 1970s. The report further suggested that the National Insurance Institute present recommendations to the Prime Minister and the security cabinet on how to regulate responsibility and allocate resources for a holistic approach. It was only after the serious near-accident on the Flydubai flight, which was averted due to the actions of the pilot and Israeli passengers, that the recommended review began. The article notes a broader pattern where professional staff make recommendations, but due to a lack of enforcement powers, these are often shelved by the audited bodies. The author, Moshe Cohen, who has covered the State Comptroller's office for decades, observes that while past reports were taken seriously and led to action, many recent reports seem to be ignored. He points to previous warnings, such as those concerning safety at the Mount Meron site in 2008 and recommendations in November 2024 to the Ministry of Health regarding algal toxins, which were also not adequately addressed. The article concludes that without restoring the State Comptroller's status or granting enforcement powers, future disasters are likely.