Flydubai Flight Attack Raises Serious Security Questions Over Crew Data
Following a thwarted attack on a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, Israel's National Passenger Data Targeting Center confirms it received the crew manifest, raising serious security questions.
Following the thwarted terror attack on a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, where the co-pilot allegedly assaulted the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, the Tax Authority confirms that the National Passenger Data Targeting Center (NPDTC) received the flight crew manifest.
The critical question of what crew details were transferred in advance to Israeli authorities and what background checks were conducted is now at the center of the investigation following the incident, which can be defined as a severe security failure on the Israeli side.
It remains unclear why no red flags were raised regarding the rogue pilot, especially since he reportedly did not hold dual citizenship. Generally, pilots holding citizenship from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel are barred from flying here. Moreover, recent reports indicate multiple warning signs regarding the pilot, including his dismissal from a previous airline.
The NPDTC was established under the 2023 law authorizing the collection and analysis of passenger data for individuals entering or leaving Israel, aimed at gathering and analyzing information on passengers and crew members on international flights. All airlines are mandated to transmit passenger and crew data, including flight details, passport information, and additional data.
Personal and aviation data collected by the NPDTC is managed in a secure database intended for counter-terrorism, aviation security, combating severe crime, immigration control, and public health preservation.
Information transferred to the center is accessible to security and law enforcement agencies, including the Shin Bet and the Israel Police, and is legally required to be analyzed using technological means to proactively identify risks or anomalous patterns, allowing authorities to detect relevant information before landing or takeoff.
