Flydubai attack sparks tighter flight screenings, but some security issues left up in air

Israel rolled out tighter security screening for pilots and flight crews after the September 30 flydubai attack, requiring airlines to submit crew data 48 hours before departure. Experts question the effectiveness of the measures due to reliance on foreign airline compliance and unresolved operational challenges, including nationality restrictions that complicate staffing for carriers.

Israel has introduced stricter security screening for pilots and flight crews following the September 30 flydubai terror attack, in which an Omani copilot attempted to crash a passenger jet into the ground. The attack was thwarted when the Indian captain, seriously wounded, opened the cockpit door and passengers subdued the assailant. The new directives require airlines flying to Israel to submit crew information 48 hours before departure, replacing a system that relied on foreign airlines to vet their own crews. However, experts point out that the effectiveness of the measures is undermined by reliance on foreign airline compliance and unresolved operational hurdles. The National Center for Passenger Information Data Analysis (Malan) will receive the data, but it is unclear how it will be cross-referenced or transmitted to security agencies. The Shin Bet will now oversee security for incoming foreign airlines. The new rules also bar crew from about 30 countries without diplomatic ties with Israel, creating staffing challenges for airlines already reluctant to resume regular schedules after wartime disruptions. Security analysts call for international cooperation and information sharing rather than placing the burden solely on airlines.