2 hrs ago
Israel Says It Does Not Vet Foreign Pilots
Israel’s Transportation Ministry says it does not check the backgrounds of foreign pilots.
The ministry says security officials are responsible for identifying crews and judging threats.
Its comments came after a frightening incident on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
An Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian captain with an axe.
Passengers and crew members overpowered him.
The plane dropped quickly, but another pair of pilots landed it safely in Saudi Arabia.
Israeli media reported that rules keeping some pilots from flying to Israel may not have been closely enforced.
The UAE said the co-pilot was planning a terrorist act.
Israel’s Transportation Ministry said it does not conduct background checks on foreign pilots or have staff abroad to check them.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev said security officials—not her ministry—are responsible for identifying crews and assessing threats.
The statements followed an incident Wednesday on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian captain with an axe.
Passengers and crew overpowered the co-pilot as the Boeing 737 descended nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds; another pair of pilots landed it safely in Tabuk.
Israeli media reported that Shin Bet had relied on foreign airlines to enforce restrictions on pilots from countries without formal diplomatic relations with Israel; the UAE said the co-pilot was planning a terrorist act.
- Who
- An Omani flydubai co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar; Israel’s Transportation Ministry addressed pilot checks.
- What
- An alleged attack aboard a Tel Aviv-bound flight prompted scrutiny of checks and restrictions on foreign pilots.
- Where
- The flight traveled from Dubai toward Tel Aviv and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- When
- The flight incident occurred on Wednesday; Minister Miri Regev spoke on Saturday. The article was published October 4, 2026.
- Why
- The incident led to questions about how Israel’s restrictions on pilots from countries without formal diplomatic relations were enforced.
Ministry’s account
Reported enforcement concerns
Responsibility for pilot checks
Ministry’s account
Miri Regev said her ministry lacks the resources to conduct background checks and that security officials are responsible for identifying crews and assessing threats.
Reported enforcement concerns
Channel 12 reported that Shin Bet had not examined the origins of flydubai’s pilots and had relied on the airline to comply with restrictions.
Effectiveness of restrictions
Ministry’s account
The ministry said it could not guarantee complete security for foreign-airline flights or promise that a similar incident would not happen again.
Reported enforcement concerns
Israeli media reported that dozens of Omani pilots had flown to Tel Aviv on flydubai flights despite restrictions on pilots from countries without formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
Key facts
- Airline
- flydubai
- Route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Incident
- An Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an axe.
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737
- Descent
- Nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds
- People aboard
- More than 170 passengers and crew
- Landing
- A second pair of pilots landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- UAE statement
- The UAE said the co-pilot was planning a terrorist act.
Quotes
Transportation Ministry security division representative
A representative of the ministry's security division, as reported in Israeli media
“Those who are supposed to identify the crew are security officials. We are not security officials.”
news18.com
NDTV
“We have no staff that checks every person there”
NDTV
Sources
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