Israeli Airline Checks Social Media of 2,500 Pilots Amid Security Concerns
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
An Israeli airline is independently vetting social media accounts of 2,500 foreign pilots and crew members operating leased aircraft, following security concerns after a Flydubai incident. The private cybersecurity check bypasses government agencies like the Shin Bet and Mossad. This action highlights concerns over the Ministry of Transport's oversight of foreign carriers and leased planes, a practice heavily utilized by Israeli airlines.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- An Israeli airline is hiring a cybersecurity firm to check social media of 2,500 foreign pilots and crew.
- The review follows security concerns raised by a Flydubai incident en route to Tel Aviv.
- The airline is bypassing government security agencies like Shin Bet and Mossad.
- Israeli carriers Israir and Arkia heavily rely on leased aircraft with foreign crews.
- Reports suggest the Ministry of Transport has failed to adequately vet foreign airlines and crews.
- The Ministry of Transport cited a lack of intelligence apparatus for its vetting limitations.
An Israeli airline has initiated its own security review of foreign pilots and flight attendants operating leased aircraft, bypassing government agencies. The company has hired a cybersecurity firm to examine the social media activity of approximately 2,500 individuals. This move comes after a series of security lapses were exposed following an incident involving a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The airline decided not to wait for decisions from the Ministry of Transport, Shin Bet, or Mossad, opting instead for a private technological company to analyze social media posts and comments from pilots and crew working on leased planes. The "wet leasing" practice, where airlines rent aircraft along with crew, maintenance, and insurance, is common in the industry but does not fall under standard Shin Bet security requirements. These requirements typically include armed guards, missile defense systems, enhanced passenger screening, and special security personnel at foreign airports.
Israeli carriers, particularly charter airlines Israir and Arkia, rely heavily on wet leasing. In July, Arkia operated 70% of its flights with leased planes, while Israir used leased aircraft for 56% of its flights, and Sun d'Or for 5%. Local media reports indicate that Israeli security agencies have long warned about the Ministry of Transport's alleged failure to adequately vet foreign airlines and their crews flying into Israel, as well as Israeli flights operated by foreign carriers.
The Ministry of Transport has stated it lacks the necessary intelligence apparatus to conduct such checks. The Flydubai incident involved a co-pilot who, according to UAE authorities, underwent radicalization training in Australia before the flight to Tel Aviv. The security protocols for these leased flights were reportedly approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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