Before Flydubai Attack, 12 Omani Pilots Flew to Israel Despite Ban. How Did It Happen?
Channel 12 said dozens of Omani pilots flew the route in recent years, exposing gaps in Israel’s crew screening after the attack.
- On Wednesday, an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to take control of Flight FZ1073 during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Passengers and crew intervened, forcing the Boeing MAX 8 to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- The Channel reported Thursday that dozens of Omani pilots had operated the Dubai-Tel Aviv route in recent years, bypassing an Israeli restriction barring flight crews from nations without diplomatic ties with Israel.
- Israeli authorities had trusted foreign carriers to enforce the restriction rather than independently verifying flight crew backgrounds; an unnamed industry official questioned why existing security capabilities were not used to identify crews.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the co-pilot underwent Islamist radicalization, though the UAE has objected to Israel drawing definitive conclusions before its investigation concludes. The Shin Bet and The Mossad are examining potential terror links.
- The Transportation Ministry now faces scrutiny regarding the Center for Aviation Security Operations' oversight of flight crews, following a 2024 recommendation from the State Comptroller's Office for a formal review of air travel security procedures.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Israel missed the warning signs behind the Flydubai terror plot
There is little reason, or justification, to downplay the scale of the failure surrounding the terrorist attack that nearly succeeded aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Israel. It was the resourcefulness of the passengers that saved the day, just as on Oct. 7. Then, it came after the catastrophe; on last week's flight, it prevented […] The post Israel missed the warning signs behind the Flydubai terror plot appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.
In Israel, the relief after the foiled attack on Flydubai flight gave way to a strong security controversy. How could an Omani co-pilot, with a known radical Islamist history, find himself flying a plane filled with Israelis to Tel Aviv? The revelations pile up on heavy surveillance failures.
Heroism should not blind us: Israel failed to prevent the flydubai incident
The efforts of the passengers and the other pilots, who prevented the disaster at the last moment, do not absolve Israel of the need for a thorough investigation, including the identification of those responsible for the dangerous failure
Before Flydubai attack, 12 Omani pilots flew to Israel despite ban. How did it happen?
Dozens of Omani pilots reportedly flew flydubai's Dubai-Tel Aviv route in recent years despite an Israeli restriction barring pilots from countries without diplomatic ties with Israel. Channel 12's report has raised questions over aviation security after an Omani flydubai copilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
Security lapse Israel overlooked? Over 12 Omani pilots flew to Tel Aviv despite ban
Israeli passengers, the captain and other pilots on board intervened, allowing the plane to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Most of the passengers were Israeli and were later flown from Saudi Arabia to Israel. Oman does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. According to the report, rules introduced after 2020 Abraham Accords prohibit pilots from countries that do not have relations with Israel from flying into the country.
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- 43% of the sources are Center, 43% of the sources lean Right
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