Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Israel’s Pilot Checks Under Scrutiny After Flydubai Attack
Israel’s Transportation Ministry says it does not check the backgrounds of pilots from other countries.
The ministry says it has no staff abroad to check every pilot and that security officials are responsible for identifying crews and assessing threats.
This became a major question after an 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 stopped him while the plane dropped quickly.
Another pair of pilots landed the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Reports say there may have been problems enforcing Israel’s restrictions on pilots from some countries.
The reports differ about which agency was responsible for those checks.
The UAE said the co-pilot had been planning a terrorist act.
Israel’s Transportation Ministry says it does not conduct background checks on foreign pilots and has no personnel stationed abroad to check them.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev said identifying crews and assessing threats are security officials’ responsibilities; ministry representatives said they lack resources and cannot guarantee flights will be completely safe.
An Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with an axe aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
Passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot as the Boeing 737 descended nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds; a second pair of pilots landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Reports differ over responsibility for enforcing restrictions on pilots from countries without formal diplomatic ties with Israel: Channel 12 said oversight was left to airlines, while Army Radio reported the Shin Bet relinquished responsibility in 2021 and the ministry did not take it up in practice.
- Who
- Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar; Israel’s Transportation Ministry and security agencies are facing scrutiny over pilot checks.
- What
- An alleged attack aboard a flydubai flight prompted scrutiny of foreign-pilot checks and enforcement of entry restrictions.
- When
- The flight incident occurred on Wednesday; Miri Regev spoke on Saturday. The reports were published on October 4, 2026.
- Where
- The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The incident raised questions about checks on foreign pilots and which Israeli body was responsible for enforcing restrictions.
Ministry’s account
Reported responsibility and enforcement concerns
Who should identify crews and assess threats
Ministry’s account
Transportation Minister Miri Regev said security officials, not her ministry, are responsible for identifying crews and assessing threat levels. Ministry representatives said they lacked the personnel and resources to check foreign pilots.
Reported responsibility and enforcement concerns
A report said that in mid-2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assigned responsibility for the security of foreign airlines to the Transportation Ministry and its Security Division. Army Radio reported that the Shin Bet relinquished responsibility in 2021 and the ministry did not assume it in practice.
Enforcement of pilot restrictions
Ministry’s account
Ministry representatives said they could not specify how many pilots from hostile states had landed in Israel and could not guarantee complete security for foreign-airline flights.
Reported responsibility and enforcement concerns
Channel 12 reported that Israel relied on foreign airlines to enforce restrictions on pilots from countries without formal diplomatic relations, and that the Shin Bet had not examined flydubai pilots’ origins beyond reminding the airline of the restriction. Reports said dozens of Omani pilots had flown to Tel Aviv.
Official scrutiny
Ministry’s account
The ministry said it was not an intelligence body and did not have forces or staff abroad to check every person.
Reported responsibility and enforcement concerns
A report said the State Comptroller had addressed the issue in a classified May 2024 report that remains under gag order.
- Airline and route
- flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Incident
- The Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an axe.
- Captain
- Indian captain Smit Machchhar was seriously injured.
- Aircraft and descent
- A Boeing 737 descended 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.
- Ministry position
- The Transportation Ministry said it does not conduct background checks on foreign pilots and has no staff stationed abroad for such checks.
- UAE statement
- The UAE said the co-pilot had been planning a terrorist act.
