Israel will tighten security checks on pilots flying into the country after a violent incident aboard a flydubai service from Dubai to Tel Aviv, in which a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash the aircraft. The move comes as authorities review security procedures for inbound flights to Tel Aviv and other destinations in Israel, including services operated by foreign carriers.
Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister’s office, said officials will verify pilots’ identities and carry out additional security checks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered authorities to ramp up security on flights to Israel operated by both Israeli and non-Israeli airlines. The incident was contained after passengers and crew intervened, allowing the aircraft to land safely in Saudi Arabia.
The flight, flydubai service FZ1073, was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board, most of them Israelis. The pilot who was attacked was identified by Netanyahu as Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar. The motive for the assault remains under investigation.
The new measures appear to add another layer of scrutiny rather than replace existing vetting. Pilots already undergo background checks and medical and psychological assessments, but the latest order points to closer scrutiny for crews on Israel-bound flights amid heightened concern over aviation security. flydubai has suspended flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues.