Israeli Transport Ministry Official Accused of Corruption in Aviation Security
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Aviation security chief Dvir Rubinstein faces corruption allegations.
- He allegedly ran a private firm training airlines to bypass security.
- Clients included FlyDubai and Emirates, bypassing mandatory screenings.
- The scandal follows an attempted terror attack on a FlyDubai flight.
- Security officials had previously blamed Rubinstein's unit for the pilot's clearance.
Dvir Rubinstein, the head of the Aviation Security Operations Center within Israel's Ministry of Transport, is at the center of a corruption scandal. An investigation by journalist Itay Blumenthal revealed that Rubinstein allegedly used his position for personal gain by operating a private firm, Smart Security, which trained foreign airlines. This company, registered in October 2024, offered consultancy in aviation security. Rubinstein's clients reportedly included major Middle Eastern carriers like FlyDubai and Emirates. The situation created a conflict of interest, as Rubinstein was responsible for enforcing security regulations while simultaneously teaching companies how to circumvent them for a fee.
According to the investigation, foreign airlines are normally required to use the services of an Israeli company, Premier, for pre-flight baggage and passenger screening, at a cost of approximately $5,000 per flight. However, by attending Rubinstein's paid training sessions, airlines could allegedly obtain official exemptions and conduct their own checks. Sources indicate that clients paid about $15,000 for the training program, plus an additional $5,500 for travel expenses, inviting Rubinstein abroad through his private firm, bypassing official state procedures.
The scandal gained particular prominence following an investigation into an attempted terror attack on a FlyDubai flight (FZ1073) on September 30, 2026, carried out by co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami. Security officials had stated that the Aviation Security Operations Center, headed by Rubinstein, bore direct responsibility for allowing the Omani pilot, deemed potentially dangerous, to fly to Israel. The report was published by "Kan."
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