Israel Considers New Security Measures After Flydubai Incident
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Israel's Minister of Transport, Miri Regev, is pushing for new security measures after learning that over 1,200 aircrew from hostile nations entered Israel last year. The push follows an investigation into a Flydubai flight incident where the pilot confessed to planning an attack on Ben Gurion Airport. Regev has requested the National Security Council to implement proposals, including mandatory visas for aircrew and advance passenger screening. Discussions are also underway with the UAE regarding the resumption of Flydubai flights.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's Minister of Transport Miri Regev called for urgent security measures after 1,240 aircrew from hostile nations entered Israel.
- The security review was prompted by an attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight by an Omani pilot.
- The pilot, Hamam al-Khamami, confessed to planning to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport.
- Proposed measures include mandatory aviation visas for all aircrew and passengers arriving in Israel.
- Regev also discussed resuming Flydubai flights with UAE officials and enhancing Israeli airline security.
- The pilot cited revenge for Israeli actions in Gaza as his motive.
Israel's Minister of Transport, Miri Regev, has urged the head of the National Security Council to implement immediate measures to prevent future security breaches, following revelations that 1,240 aircrew members from countries without diplomatic ties with Israel, including Syria and Lebanon, entered the country in the past year. The issue was raised during a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on Tuesday, October 6, which focused on the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight and potential failures in Israel's security system.
Minister Regev proposed several new security protocols, including a one-time aviation visa for all arriving passengers and crew, to be processed by the Population and Immigration Authority. She also suggested that airlines operating flights from high-risk countries, identified by the Mossad and Shin Bet, must submit passenger and crew manifests 48 hours in advance for security vetting. These proposals, some of which were previously rejected, require directives from the National Security Council due to the Ministry of Transport's lack of implementing authority.
The discussion also touched upon the Flydubai incident itself. The pilot, identified as Hamam al-Khamami, an Omani citizen, confessed during interrogation in the UAE that he intended to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport as revenge for Israel's actions in Gaza. His backup plan was to target a US base in Jordan. The investigation also suggested that the flight attendants were not complicit, though some passengers suspected their involvement. Al-Khamami had previously postponed a similar attack in July 2026 due to personal ties with a crew member.
In parallel, Regev met with UAE officials to discuss the potential return of Flydubai flights to Israel, aiming to restore "the former glory and respect of the Abraham Accords." She also requested enhanced security screening for Israeli airlines and permission for two daily flights per Israeli carrier, along with the use of X-ray scanners for baggage. The return of Flydubai flights is reportedly contingent on the deployment of an Israeli security team to the UAE, where Shin Bet agents are involved in interrogating al-Khamami.
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