Israeli officials travel to Dubai to review flydubai security breach

A high-level delegation from the Israeli Transportation Ministry is scheduled to depart for the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. The group, led by Director General Moshe Ben Zaken, will meet with local security and aviation authorities. Their primary objective is to receive a detailed briefing on the ongoing investigation into the recent security incident involving flydubai Flight FZ1073.

According to reports from Channel 13, the delegation will be briefed on Monday regarding the findings of the probe. Following this session, they plan to hold discussions with senior officials at Dubai International Airport. These talks are expected to center on the preparations for reopening the direct flight route between Tel Aviv and Dubai for international carriers. The officials will also explore the possibility of resuming flights from Israeli airlines to the Gulf state.

The urgent diplomatic and technical visit comes after a near-disaster on September 30, which highlighted significant gaps in Israel’s security protocols for incoming foreign flights. The incident revealed a lack of effective oversight over how airlines vet their pilots. Additionally, it exposed that Israeli authorities did not conduct independent vetting of the crews, and aircrew lists were often submitted only after the aircraft had already taken off.

The attack involved Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, the copilot on the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. He attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, using an emergency ax and attempted to crash the plane, which was carrying mostly Israeli passengers. The aircraft plummeted several thousand feet before passengers entered the cockpit. Machchhar had managed to open the door while under attack, allowing the passengers to immobilize the copilot and stabilize the flight.

Two off-duty pilots who were passengers on the flight took control of the aircraft and executed an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. A replacement plane was later arranged to return the passengers to Tel Aviv. While no one was killed in the incident, several passengers sustained minor injuries from the steep descent. Captain Machchhar was seriously wounded, suffering stab wounds to the head.

Flydubai has been barred from operating flights to Israel since the attack. The Transportation Ministry, headed by Minister Miri Regev, is expected to make a final decision on whether the airline can resume operations after the delegation’s visit concludes. The ministry and the broader security establishment have faced significant criticism for failing to monitor pilots and crew members from nations considered hostile to Israel.

In related developments, the Israel Police have opened investigations into two senior Transportation Ministry officials. The probes look into alleged conflicts of interest and suspected inadequate care regarding the incident. Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry announced last week that the passengers will be officially recognized as victims of a hostile incident. This status is expected to provide them with monetary compensation and access to government-subsidized services.

Survivors of the flight have also begun organizing legal action to address the alleged security failures. Approximately 100 passengers have joined an effort to file a class-action lawsuit. The suit targets both flydubai and government authorities in Israel and the United Arab Emirates, seeking accountability for the procedures that allowed the attack to occur.