Israeli authorities are facing tough questions over how an Omani pilot was able to fly into Tel Aviv despite a rule barring pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, according to a report by Channel 12.The issue came to light after a hijacking attempt was made on a flydubai flight on Wednesday when its Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain, Smit Machchhar, and attempted to deliberately crash the aircraft.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.
Over 12 Omani pilots flew into Israel
Oman does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. According to the report, rules introduced after the 2020 Abraham Accords prohibit pilots from countries that do not have relations with Israel from flying into the country.However, Channel 12 reported that dozens of Omani pilots had flown into Israel in recent years while working for foreign airlines.The report said Israeli authorities had largely relied on airlines themselves to ensure that pilots from countries without diplomatic ties with Israel did not operate flights into the country.Channel 12 reported that the Shin Bet security service did not independently investigate the nationalities or backgrounds of flydubai pilots. Instead, it had asked the airline not to use pilots from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.“The Shin Bet has all the means to know, within five minutes, who all of the pilots on the Dubai airline are, and they simply chose to turn a blind eye,” the network quoted an anonymous airline industry official as saying. “In Israel, they expected the airline to be reliable enough, so they didn’t conduct reviews in recent years.”Israel’s Transportation Ministry said the Shin Bet had not issued a specific warning about flydubai, apart from requesting increased baggage checks, according to the report.
Security procedures now under scrutiny
The incident has prompted authorities to examine how flight crews from foreign airlines are cleared to enter Israel. Channel 12 reported that the Transportation Ministry and its Center for Aviation Security Operations, which was established in recent years to oversee and monitor the entry of flight crews, will be examined as part of the investigation.The State Comptroller’s Office had already recommended in 2024 that the government review security procedures related to air travel.The report also pointed to an earlier dispute between the Shin Bet and Israeli airlines El Al, IsraAir and Arkia. In July, the security service barred the three carriers from landing in Dubai because of concerns over regional tensions linked to the war with Iran.Although that decision involved Israeli airlines rather than foreign carriers, Channel 12 reported that applying similarly strict security measures to foreign airlines could potentially have helped prevent Wednesday’s incident.
Investigation points to possible terror motive
Investigations into the attack are continuing in Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The Shin Bet and Mossad are also reportedly cooperating with security agencies in the two countries.Saudi Arabia said the captain and co-pilot, who were treated in hospital for their injuries, left for Abu Dhabi on Thursday after receiving medical clearance.Initial information shared with Israeli authorities reportedly suggested that the co-pilot may have attacked for nationalist reasons, raising the possibility that the incident was treated as a terror attack. The assessment was reportedly based partly on statements the co-pilot made to Saudi investigators, along with other information gathered during the probe.Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Thursday that the Omani first officer “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination.” Channel 12 said that assessment was based on information from two Israeli sources familiar with the Saudi investigation.The motive has not been independently established, and investigations by authorities in the three countries remain ongoing.
