Israel Receives Foreign Pilot Details Only Upon Takeoff, Not 48 Hours Prior
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Israel receives critical information on foreign pilots and aircrew only at the moment of takeoff, not the legally mandated 48 hours in advance, a security gap exposed by an attempted attack on a Flydubai flight. This delay hinders pre-flight security checks, despite a 2023 law designed to provide such data earlier for counter-terrorism and aviation security. The issue affects all airlines flying into Israel and raises serious questions about current security protocols.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Foreign pilot and crew data is received by Israel only at takeoff, not 48 hours prior.
- The delay was revealed following an attempted attack on a Flydubai flight.
- A 2023 law mandates data availability up to 48 hours before flights for security purposes.
- The National Passenger Data Diagnosis Center (Mal'an) processes the delayed information.
- The security gap impacts all airlines flying into Israel.
A significant gap in the availability of information regarding foreign aircrew arriving in Israel has been revealed following an attempted attack on a Flydubai flight. Sources indicate that while passenger data can be accessible up to 48 hours before departure through the National Passenger Data Diagnosis Center (Mal'an), details for pilots and crew are only received at the moment of takeoff.
This finding carries serious security implications, particularly after the incident on Flydubai flight FZ1073, which raised questions about the screening mechanisms for foreign aircrew. The current system, according to insiders, does not provide crew information early enough for the mandated 48-hour pre-screening using the data it receives. This issue affects all aircrews entering Israel, not just those from Flydubai.
A 2023 law empowers authorities to collect and analyze passenger and crew data for purposes including counter-terrorism, aviation security, and combating crime and illegal immigration. The law mandates that airlines provide information such as names, nationalities, passport details, and flight data at three intervals: up to 48 hours before takeoff, at check-in, and shortly after doors close. This data is processed by Mal'an, which operates under the Tax Authority.
The delay in receiving crew information means that identifying individuals with passports from countries without diplomatic ties to Israel, which could warrant additional security checks, is significantly hampered. The gap highlights concerns about the effectiveness of aviation security protocols, especially when passenger data is available days in advance, but critical information about those piloting the aircraft is received only as it departs.
