Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Netanyahu Orders Review of Foreign Flights After Flydubai Attack
Israel's prime minister has ordered a new check of security for foreign planes flying to Israel.
The order came after a co-pilot on a flydubai flight attacked the captain.
Reports say passengers and crew stopped and restrained him.
Accounts differ about whether he used a knife or a crash axe.
Israeli reports say he wanted to crash the plane at Ben Gurion Airport.
A preliminary investigation reportedly found he acted alone.
Some Israeli officials say a review could help find and fix problems.
Opposition politicians say the government should take responsibility, and they disagree over which agencies oversee flight security.
Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a review of security arrangements for foreign civilian flights to Israel.
The order followed an attack by an Omani flydubai co-pilot on the captain of a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight.
Reports differ on whether the captain was stabbed or attacked with a crash axe; passengers and crew reportedly restrained the co-pilot.
Israeli media reported the co-pilot intended to crash the plane at Ben Gurion Airport; a preliminary investigation reportedly found he acted alone.
Officials defended the review, while opposition figures criticized it and disputed who was responsible for oversight of foreign airlines.
- Who
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the review after an Omani co-pilot attacked the captain of a flydubai flight.
- What
- A review of security arrangements for foreign civilian flights to Israel was ordered.
- When
- The order was announced on Sunday, after an incident on the preceding Wednesday, according to one report.
- Where
- The incident occurred aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight; reports say the co-pilot intended to crash it at Ben Gurion Airport.
- Why
- The review followed the attack and scrutiny of how foreign airline security checks were handled.
Critics of the response
Government defense
Whether the review is an adequate response
Critics of the response
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the review a sham and said the failures could have led to a historic disaster. Gadi Eisenkot said the transport minister should have resigned.
Government defense
An official close to Netanyahu said it was legitimate to examine and correct gaps after an incident to help prevent a recurrence.
Who is responsible for flight security
Critics of the response
Keren Terner blamed Transport Minister Miri Regev, arguing the Civil Aviation Authority was directly subordinate to her ministry and that the law placed responsibility there.
Government defense
Regev rejected responsibility, saying oversight of foreign airlines falls under the Mossad and Shin Bet. A 2024 state comptroller report found responsibilities were not clearly divided.
- Review ordered by
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- Review appointee
- National Security Council head Shmuel Ben Ezra was instructed to appoint an examiner.
- Flight
- A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv; the second report identifies it as Flight 1073.
- Incident
- The Omani co-pilot attacked the captain; accounts differ on whether he used a knife or a crash axe.
- Reported target
- Israeli media reports said the co-pilot intended to crash at Ben Gurion Airport.
- Preliminary finding
- Reports said an initial Israeli investigation found the co-pilot acted alone.
- Oversight dispute
- Transport Minister Miri Regev said foreign-flight security oversight falls to the Mossad and Shin Bet; critics cited the Transport Ministry's role.
