Breaking· Security· Updated
Airlines Must Vet Israeli Flight Crews Under New Transport Ministry Directive
Israel's Ministry of Transportation has issued immediate security directives requiring foreign airlines to verify the citizenship of all flight crew members on flights entering or transiting Israeli airspace. Under the new rules, airlines bear sole responsibility for ensuring that no crew member holds citizenship or dual citizenship from a country that does not maintain official diplomatic relations with Israel.
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What happened
- 01Israel's Ministry of Transportation mandated that foreign airlines verify the citizenship of all flight crews entering or transiting Israeli airspace.
- 02Airlines are solely responsible for ensuring crew members do not hold citizenship from nations without diplomatic ties to Israel.
- 03The directive follows a September 30 attempted hijacking by Flydubai co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami on a flight to Tel Aviv.
- 04The Omani co-pilot allegedly planned to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport, the Azrieli Towers, or a U.S. military base.
- 05The Flydubai captain was injured while preventing the hijacking before passengers subdued the attacker.
- 06Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the National Security Council to conduct a comprehensive review of foreign flight procedures.
- 07The Ministry of Defense is considering a 24-hour visa requirement for arriving crew members to help verify their identities.
The directives follow a September 30 incident in which Hamam Al-Hammami, an Omani co-pilot on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying 174 passengers and crew, attempted to hijack the aircraft. The co-pilot allegedly sought to crash the plane into Israeli landmarks, including the Azrieli Towers and Ben Gurion Airport, or a U.S. military base. The captain was injured while preventing the hijacking, and passengers subsequently subdued the attacker.
In response to the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the National Security Council to review foreign flight procedures. Security officials had previously accused the Transportation Ministry's security department of negligence regarding the flight. Because Israel has not yet established an independent system to verify crew identities, the Ministry of Defense is considering requiring 24-hour visas for arriving crew members, though this would not cover transit flights.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
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