El Al's Safety Myth Questioned Amid Foreign Leased Flights

A recent incident involving a Flydubai flight diverted to Saudi Arabia due to an altercation in the cockpit has highlighted a lesser-known aspect of air travel for Israeli passengers: the use of "wet leases" by Israeli airlines. This practice involves Israeli carriers, such as El Al, selling tickets for flights operated by foreign airlines using foreign aircraft and crews, a detail often unknown to the public.

According to a report by Roy Yanovsky for Kan News, these wet-leased flights do not benefit from the stringent security protocols mandated by Israel's Shin Bet agency, which are standard on flights operated by Israeli companies with their own aircraft and crews. Yanovsky stated that Israeli airlines collectively lease 23 such aircraft as of the report's date, meaning not all passengers booking through Israeli companies receive the expected level of security.

This situation is partly enabled by a government decision from August 2021, which eased security requirements for flights operated under an Israeli company's code but using foreign wet-leased aircraft. Israir cited this change as providing operational flexibility, particularly during peak seasons, though the report does not detail the full security arrangements for these flights.

The context for this discussion includes a recent incident where a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after one pilot allegedly stabbed his colleague and attempted to crash the plane. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported that passengers and crew intervened to neutralize the attacker. The passengers were later returned to Israel. Amidst this news, El Al's stock closed up 7.93% on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.