US President Trump Links Iran to Dubai Flight Incident; Transport Ministry Official Under Scrutiny

While Israeli assessments suggest the Omani hijacker acted alone, U.S. President Donald Trump insisted on a connection to Iran, stating, "Yes, in my opinion, yes." His remarks followed news that Shin Bet agents were in the UAE assisting in the investigation of the Fly Dubai co-pilot who attempted to crash the aircraft. The incident has also highlighted potential conflicts of interest within Israel's Ministry of Transport. Dvir Rubinstein, who manages the Aviation Security Operations Center (ASOC) and is responsible for approving foreign airlines' security protocols for entry into Israel, also provides private consulting services to airlines, including Fly Dubai and Emirates. The Ministry of Transport stated Rubinstein's additional work was legally approved and conducted outside his work hours, but did not comment on the implications of his private dealings with airlines under his professional purview.

The Fly Dubai incident has exposed systemic issues in foreign flight security, stemming from an ongoing dispute over authority between the Ministry of Transport and the National Security Council (NSC). The professional echelon within the Ministry of Transport has repeatedly warned that the Security, Emergency, and Cyber Department lacks the necessary resources and intelligence capabilities to oversee foreign flight security. Despite formal requests and multiple meetings dating back to the tenure of former Minister Merav Michaeli and Director General Michal Frank, the NSC has resisted transferring responsibility, leading to a two-year delay in implementing government decisions on the matter.

Internal organizational chaos within the Ministry of Transport has also been noted. Avraham (Avri) Cohen, head of the Security Department, reportedly worked in private security without final approval, raising questions about conflicts of interest. Incoming Minister Miri Regev and Director General Moshe Ben Zaken were reportedly briefed on these deficiencies, but action was stalled. A source familiar with the matter described the ministry's handling of the issue as a deep management failure.

Analysis of Minister Regev's schedules from 2023-2025 reveals extensive focus on aviation matters like restoring foreign airlines and managing flight cancellations, but no dedicated discussions on vetting foreign aircrews or addressing security loopholes. This lack of focus persists despite a sharp report from the State Comptroller in May 2024 highlighting gaps in international aviation security and urging government action. While Regev held numerous meetings with local authority heads, particularly from her Likud party, no meetings were scheduled with Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor Ron Huldai, a prominent government critic.