No New Security Procedures After Foiled Flydubai Hijacking Attempt

Four days after the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight, the Ministry of Transportation has yet to change procedures or take new steps to prevent a recurrence. Ministry officials stated they lack the manpower or authority to verify whether foreign airline crew members possess criminal backgrounds or malicious intent, relying instead on airlines to vet their personnel.

Security Gaps and Foreign Crews

In a conversation with journalists, Dvir Rubinstein, head of aviation security at the Ministry of Transportation, explained that while discussions are underway with security agencies, no operational changes have been implemented. "There is no 100 percent guarantee, and foreign aviation cannot be halted. We rely on the security standards of the airline's country of origin," Rubinstein said. Currently, flight crew data upon entering Israel is handled by the Tax Authority rather than the Ministry of Transportation.

"There is no blue-and-white security at foreign airports, and no one can guarantee whether the person preparing the food is more or less dangerous than the pilot," Rubinstein noted.

Lack of Oversight on Enemy State Pilots

Due to existing security gaps, the Ministry of Transportation admitted it does not know whether pilots from enemy states such as Iran, Iraq, or Syria have landed in Israel in recent years. This follows the incident involving co-pilot Mamam al-Hamami, an Omani national. Shmuel Zakay, head of the Civil Aviation Authority, noted that the airline violated protocols by allowing al-Hamami on board, given that Omani nationals are barred from entering Israel regardless of secondary passports. Flydubai has temporarily suspended its flights to Israel as authorities in the United Arab Emirates investigate the incident.