Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a review of how foreigners are cleared to work on airlines that fly into the country, citing concerns about the Omani national who was the co-pilot on a Dubai-based Flydubai commercial flight to Tel Aviv and allegedly assaulted the plane’s Indian pilot with a crash axe to gain control of the plane.
Netanyahu ordered National Security Council chief Shmuel Ben Ezra to appoint a special investigator to review the security arrangements for flights into Israel by civilian aircraft from foreign airlines. Flydubai flight FZ1073 took off from Dubai on its way to Tel Aviv on September 30 carrying more than 170 people when Captain Smit Machchhar was apparently attacked by the co-pilot, prompting a sharp drop in altitude until crew and passengers were able to prevent a possible hijacking. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk.
Netanyahu ordered the review after learning that the plane’s co-pilot was an Omani national. Oman does not have diplomatic ties with Israel. The UAE handed Israel lists of passengers and crew aboard Flydubai flights bound for Israel before takeoff. That information included pilots’ nationalities, according to officials. The review will examine how foreign pilots and other airline crews are being vetted and consider steps needed to shore up any weaknesses.
The UAE has the Omani national in custody. Investigators in several countries are trying to learn about his background and motives. Transportation Minister Miri Regev said security lapses were not her ministry’s responsibility, adding that it is the job of Israel’s intelligence services.
In 2024, Israel’s State Comptroller’s Office recommended that responsibility for security clearance of foreign airlines be made explicit. Former Transportation Ministry director-general Keren Terner said that responsibility lies with her ministry and Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the planned review as inadequate.