Transport Ministry Seeks Data Connection After flydubai Pilot Incident
Israel's transport ministry sought access to passenger data following a parliamentary hearing on an Omani pilot's attempt to crash a flydubai flight, as police investigate senior officials for suspected conflicts of interest.
The security division of Israel's Ministry of Transport requested an immediate connection to the National Passenger Diagnostics Center (MALAN) to obtain nationality data for flight crews. This action followed a classified hearing in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee regarding an Omani pilot's attempt to crash a flydubai flight.
The ministry failed to connect to the system for the past three years. This occurred despite repeated requests from the Tax Authority prior to the terror attempt. Once a representative was authorized, the ministry was informed that the system currently lacks the technical capability to generate flight crew nationality data 48 hours in advance, as required by the MALAN law. Instead, information updates only near takeoff, rendering it useless for security purposes.
Police Investigation into Senior Officials
Meanwhile, the National Unit for Combating Crime, Lahav 433, launched a preliminary inquiry into senior security officials at the Ministry of Transport. The investigation focuses on whether officials responsible for aviation security, particularly pilot screening, worked for foreign airlines including flydubai.
The inquiry targets two senior officials: Avraham Cohen, head of the ministry's security division, and Dvir Rubinstein, manager of the aviation security operations center. The probe began following a referral from transport ministry officials to the police, with the National Fraud Investigations Unit (YAHAK) handling the case over suspected conflicts of interest.
"Israel offered to participate in any safety investigation led by Saudi Arabia, but has not yet been invited to take part," said Ofer Vaknin, director of the Aviation Safety Investigation Authority.
International Inquiries
The investigation into Omani pilot Hammam al-Hamami continues across multiple jurisdictions. Saudi Arabia is investigating the security incident alongside a criminal probe by the United Arab Emirates, which involves the cooperation of the Shin Bet.
Authorities in Australia and New Zealand are also conducting inquiries into the periods the pilot spent within their territories. Israel continues to await a formal invitation from Riyadh to join the ongoing safety probe.
