Israeli Airline Hires Tech Firm to Vet 2,500 Foreign Crew Members
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
An Israeli airline is independently vetting 2,500 foreign crew members using a tech firm after a FlyDubai flight incident revealed security gaps. The checks focus on social media to detect radicalization risks, particularly for "wet lease" operations. This proactive measure precedes potential national reforms on foreign crew security protocols.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- An Israeli airline is vetting 2,500 foreign crew members after a FlyDubai flight incident.
- The airline hired a tech firm to check foreign pilots' and cabin crew's social media.
- The security checks aim to detect radicalization and potential security risks.
- The initiative targets aircraft operating under "wet lease" agreements.
- Israeli airlines heavily rely on wet-leased aircraft for operations.
- Security services have previously warned about inadequate checks on foreign crews.
An Israeli airline has proactively initiated security checks on approximately 2,500 foreign pilots and cabin crew members, bypassing national authorities. The company has engaged a specialized technology firm to scrutinize the social media activity and public records of these foreign personnel. This move comes in response to a recent attempted attack on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which exposed potential security vulnerabilities in Israel's aviation protocols.
The airline's objective is to identify any signs of radicalization or behavior that could pose a security risk among its foreign crew. The decision to act independently, rather than await a joint response from the Ministry of Transport, Mossad, and Shin Bet, highlights the urgency felt by the carrier. The enhanced scrutiny specifically targets aircraft operating under "wet lease" agreements, where airlines rent planes along with their crews and operational support. These leased flights are not subject to the same stringent security measures as Israeli commercial flights, such as armed security personnel, missile defense systems, and enhanced passenger screening.
Israeli airlines frequently utilize wet-leased aircraft; in July, 70% of Arkia's flights and 56% of Israir's flights were operated using such arrangements. Media reports indicate that security services have long warned about inadequate checks on foreign airlines and their crews. The Ministry of Transport has acknowledged limitations in its intelligence-gathering capabilities for conducting thorough vetting. This airline's initiative may signal a significant shift in Israeli aviation security pending potential national reforms.
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