Flights under Israel's flag — where the security gap arises

Cursor Info reports on a security gap on flights of Israeli airlines operated on leased foreign aircraft. Passengers on El Al flight 541 from Athens did not undergo the standard Shin Bet security check. Security sources claim the Ministry of Transport allows a controversial scheme to expand airline business. The ministry denies the allegations.

Cursor Info publishes an investigation into a security gap on flights of Israeli airlines operated on leased foreign aircraft. Amid the threat from Iran and following an attempted hijacking of a Flydubai plane on Wednesday, September 30, it is being discussed whether passengers on such flights receive full Shin Bet protection. Israeli airlines, including El Al, are forced to lease aircraft from third-world and Eastern European countries due to increased passenger traffic and route expansion. Passengers on El Al flight 541 from Athens to Israel on Wednesday last week (September 23) learned at check-in that the flight was operated by the Bulgarian airline Air Electra. El Al security staff in Athens did not check hand luggage or conduct the standard passenger interview. A Shin Bet representative explained that foreign companies do not want to install Shin Bet security equipment, and that Shin Bet only works on flights fully operated by Israeli airlines. Security sources claim the Ministry of Transport allows this scheme to facilitate airline business expansion. The Ministry of Transport denied the claims, stating that no security level concessions were made. The article references a Maariv publication.