Shin Bet’s oversight lapse allowed Omani pilots to fly into Israel on flydubai routes in 2026, culminating in a co‑pilot assault on a Dubai‑to‑Tel Aviv flight.
Channel 12 reported that the Israeli security agency never verified the nationalities of flydubai’s crew, despite a ban on pilots from countries without diplomatic ties to Israel.
Under the Abraham Accords, Israel forbids pilots from non‑recognized states, yet the ministry handed oversight to airlines, and the ban has been ignored for years.
Saudi authorities have handed the injured captain and co‑pilot to Abu Dhabi, where they are undergoing medical treatment and interrogation; the UAE insists it will lead the investigation.
Mossad and Shin Bet are probing whether the attacker acted alone or was part of a terror network, while Netanyahu has framed the incident as a product of Islamist radical indoctrination.
The joint inquiry will conclude in the coming weeks, and Israel plans to revise its aviation security protocols ahead of the parliamentary elections slated for December.