Expert warns about European airports: "This is where the danger lurks"

After the foiled hijacking of a Flydubai plane on September 30, it emerged that the security system for foreign flights to Israel has serious gaps. Former senior officials warn: the next threat is small and poorly protected European airports.

After the foiled attempt to hijack a Flydubai plane on September 30, 2026, serious gaps in the security system for foreign flights to Israel were revealed. State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman published a report in May 2024 warning of deficiencies in the security of foreign airline aircraft. The main recommendation—the creation of a single state authority for aviation security—was never implemented. Former head of the Transportation Ministry's Security Division, Dani Shenar, stated that responsibility is divided among seven bodies, creating "chaos and misunderstanding." Eyal Hulata, former head of the National Security Council, called the lack of response to the report a "blatant failure." The Transportation Ministry admitted it is not an intelligence body and cannot vet crews. It also emerged that the head of the Transportation Ministry's Security Division, Avri Cohen, simultaneously works in the "Ofek" security system under the Shin Bet. The idea of creating a single authority was discussed as early as 2011 but was rejected by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Experts now warn that the greatest danger comes from small European airports with low levels of protection.