Israel Faces Security Scandal Over Foreign Pilots Flying to Ben Gurion

An Israeli security scandal has erupted following an incident where a Flydubai plane was targeted. It has come to light that Israeli authorities lack knowledge regarding the number of pilots with citizenship from hostile nations who have flown into the country in recent years. Channel 12 is currently investigating reports of pilots holding dual citizenship, including from Iran, Syria, and Iraq, who may have operated flights to Ben Gurion Airport. Notably, the individual who attempted to crash the Flydubai aircraft, Hamam al-Hammami, had previously flown to Israel multiple times, with his last visit occurring just a week before the incident. The Ministry of Transport has acknowledged that it does not conduct its own checks on foreign pilots, relying instead on assurances from the airlines. Flydubai had committed to only allowing pilots with citizenship from countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel to fly into the country, a condition that was apparently violated. Former Chief of Staff and leader of the Yashar party, Gadi Eisenkot, strongly criticized the government, stating that the "serious revelations about the Ministry of Transport's work and the information that pilots from hostile states landed in Israel is further proof that the state is run by a group of incompetent and unworthy people."