Transportation Ministry delegation heads to Dubai for briefing on flydubai attack probe

An Israeli Transportation Ministry delegation led by director general Moshe Ben Zaken departed for Dubai on Sunday to receive a briefing on the investigation into the September 30 attack aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, in which the Omani copilot stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the plane. The delegation will meet with Dubai airport officials to discuss reopening the Tel Aviv-Dubai route and whether to allow flydubai to resume flights to Israel.

A delegation from Israel's Transportation Ministry, led by director general Moshe Ben Zaken, departed for the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to meet with local security and aviation officials regarding the narrowly thwarted attack aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073 in September. The delegation is scheduled to be briefed Monday on the investigation into the attack before meeting with senior officials at Dubai International Airport, according to Channel 13. The discussions will focus on preparations to reopen the Tel Aviv-Dubai flight route for international airlines and the possibility of Israeli airlines resuming flights to the Gulf state. Following the visit, the Transportation Ministry will decide whether to allow flydubai to restart its flights to Israel. The airline was barred after the attack, in which the Omani copilot stabbed the Indian captain and attempted to crash the plane full of Israelis. The near-disaster exposed major flaws in Israel's security procedures for incoming foreign flights, including no effective oversight of airlines' vetting of pilots and aircrew lists submitted only after takeoff. The ministry, under Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and the security establishment have faced heavy criticism for failing to monitor pilots and crew from hostile countries. Earlier this month, Israel Police opened investigations into two senior Transportation Ministry officials over possible conflicts of interest and inadequate care. The Defense Ministry said passengers will be recognized as victims of a hostile incident, granting monetary compensation and potential access to government-subsidized services. Approximately 100 passengers have joined an effort to pursue a class-action lawsuit against flydubai and government authorities in Israel and the UAE over alleged security failures.