Israel Probes Transport Ministry Over Aviation Security Lapses Following FlyDubai Attack Attempt
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Israeli police are investigating senior Ministry of Transport officials for alleged aviation security failures following a September 2026 attempted terror attack on a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv. The probe focuses on potential conflicts of interest and compromised oversight due to private consultations provided to foreign airlines. The incident involved a co-pilot who attacked the captain with the intent to crash the plane, but was subdued by passengers and crew. Passengers are now seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli police are questioning Ministry of Transport officials over aviation security failures.
- The investigation follows a September 2026 attempted terror attack on a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv.
- Officials are being probed for potential conflicts of interest and compromised oversight.
- The attacker, a co-pilot, was subdued by passengers and crew after assaulting the captain.
- Passengers are preparing multi-million dollar lawsuits against the airline and the ministry.
Israeli police are summoning senior officials from the Ministry of Transport for questioning as part of a broad investigation into systemic failures in aviation security. The probe was triggered by an attempted terror attack aboard a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv in September 2026. Investigators are focusing on alleged long-standing violations in security protocols for flights operated by foreign carriers. Among those to be questioned are Avri Cohen, a former security officer at the Airports Authority who allegedly worked without proper clearance, and Dvir Rubinstein, head of the aviation security operations center. A key aspect of the investigation is a potential conflict of interest, with police examining whether paid private consultations provided by officials to foreign airlines may have compromised departmental oversight and led to a critical decline in flight safety.
The investigation stems directly from the September 2026 incident where Hamam al-Hamami, a 29-year-old Omani co-pilot, attacked the captain with an emergency axe. Al-Hamami reportedly intended to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport's passenger terminal, mirroring the 9/11 attacks. Passengers and the relief crew subdued the attacker, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. It was revealed that al-Hamami had previously been dismissed from Oman's aviation sector for extremism but was hired by FlyDubai in early 2026, allegedly to gain access to the Tel Aviv route. In the wake of these revelations, passengers from the flight are preparing multi-million dollar lawsuits against the airline and the Israeli Ministry of Transport.
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