Netanyahu orders review of security for foreign flights to Israel — NDTV

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a comprehensive review of all aspects of security for foreign civil aviation operating flights to the country. As NDTV reports, he instructed National Security Council chief Shmuel Ben-Ezri to appoint an official to conduct the review.

Incident on a flight from Dubai

The decision followed an incident on a flydubai flight that was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. According to NDTV, a second pilot from Oman stabbed the captain, an Indian citizen, and attempted to crash the aircraft.

Israeli media reported that the second pilot may have intended to crash the aircraft on Israeli territory. Following the incident, calls intensified in the country to investigate security system shortcomings that allowed him to work on a flight to Tel Aviv. Critics also noted that Oman has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

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Dispute over responsibility

Transport Minister Miri Regev rejected responsibility on the part of her ministry. According to her, security oversight of flights operated by foreign airlines falls within the remit of the foreign intelligence service Mossad and the domestic security service Shin Bet.

At the same time, a 2024 state comptroller's report stated that Israel had no clear division of responsibility for the security of foreign airlines operating flights to the country. Former Transport Ministry Director General Keren Turner, who is now running for parliament with the opposition, placed responsibility on Regev, citing the Civil Aviation Authority's direct subordination to her ministry.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the announced review a sham. Gadi Eisenkot, one of Netanyahu's leading rivals ahead of the October 27 election, said that if the government were functioning properly, the transport minister should resign.