Airlines Must Submit Crew Details 48 Hours Before Flights to Israel

Airlines flying to Israel will be required to submit the details of their aircrews 48 hours prior to departure, according to a new directive from the National Center for Passenger Diagnosis (Mal'an) within the Tax Authority. This measure aims to allow security forces to prepare in advance and enhance flight oversight, as reported by Channel 13.

Under the new regulations, an initial report must be submitted two days before the scheduled takeoff. Airlines will then be obligated to update these details during check-in, no later than two hours before the flight. A final, updated list of all crew members will be provided at the time of actual departure, aligning crew reporting requirements with those for passengers.

The decision follows an incident involving a Flydubai flight that nearly resulted in a terrorist attack and the plane's destruction. Earlier this month, the airline's CEO and senior UAE officials announced the completion of an investigation that identified points of failure. The company stated it had "dismissed a significant number" of employees involved in breached security circles and requested that Israel's Minister of Transport, Miri Regev, permit the resumption of flights to Israel.

Regev and the Head of the Civil Aviation Authority, Shmulik Zakhai, declined an invitation for a tour in Dubai next week. Concurrently, Israel is implementing further security measures. Foreign nationals, including pilots and flight attendants, will need to complete an online form 48 hours before entering the country. The Population Authority will review these applications, with the Mossad and Shin Bet involved in designating "red" countries and vetting visa requests. Additionally, the Shin Bet will assume responsibility for security directives concerning foreign countries and airlines, a role previously limited to Israeli companies.