Flydubai Seeks Return to Israel After Security Probe, Dismissals

Flydubai has formally requested to resume flights to Israel, informing Israeli authorities that its investigation into the incident where an Omani pilot attempted to crash a flight into Tel Aviv has concluded. According to the airline, all failure points were identified, and a significant number of employees involved in security breaches were dismissed. The airline's CEO and senior UAE officials conveyed this information to Israel.

Despite the airline's request, Israeli Minister of Transportation Miri Regev and Head of the Civil Aviation Authority Shmuel Zakai are reportedly refusing the airline's request to resume flights. Senior officials from the Ministry of Transportation have been invited for a visit to Dubai next week.

In response to the security incident, Israel is planning new measures. All non-Israeli individuals, including flight crews and foreign passengers, will be required to complete an online form 48 hours before entering the country, with the Population and Immigration Authority reviewing these applications. The Shin Bet security agency and the Mossad intelligence agency will designate "red" countries by Thursday, and will also review visa applications. The Shin Bet will also assume responsibility for providing security guidance to foreign countries and airlines, a role previously limited to Israeli companies.

Israeli sources revealed that the Omani pilot, Al-Maimi, had planned the attack before being employed by Flydubai. He had reportedly considered a similar attack on a previous flight to Tel Aviv last year but ultimately backed out. Al-Maimi admitted to seeking employment with airlines flying to Tel Aviv, which led him to choose Flydubai. This plan was conceived before his hiring.

Amidst inter-ministerial disputes regarding security responsibilities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the head of the National Security Council, Shmuel Ben Ezra, to conduct a thorough review of all security aspects related to foreign civil aviation operating in Israel. A 2023 National Security Council discussion, involving the Shin Bet and Mossad, addressed the transfer of intelligence to civilian bodies. At that meeting, the Ministry of Transportation stated that while they hold responsibility for foreign flight security, they lack sufficient intelligence to perform their duties effectively. The Mossad agreed to increase information sharing, but this did not materialize.

Official data indicates that dozens of Omani citizens have entered Israel on tourist visas in recent years, with numbers increasing from 10 in 2022 to 29 in 2023, and 11 in 2024. While Oman is not considered an enemy state, it is believed that some of these individuals may be aircrew. This suggests potential security lapses, as the aviation agreement requires aircrews to hold diplomatic passports from countries with relations with Israel. The Ministry of Transportation stated they cannot be certain if this requirement was always met.