Israeli watchdogs demand state inquiry into flight security failures following flydubai attack

The demand followed the attempted terrorist attack on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, amid reports of persistent gaps in the screening of flight crews and information transfer.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to establish a government inquiry headed by a retired judge and grant it investigative powers to examine failures in the security screening of foreign flights entering Israel.

The demand followed the attempted terrorist attack on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, amid reports of persistent gaps in the screening of flight crews and the transfer of information between state authorities.

In its appeal, the Movement for Quality Government presented information indicating that the details of the flight's crew members, including the co-pilot's personal information and citizenship, had been transferred before takeoff to the Tax Authority's National Passenger Data Analysis Center. However, the Transportation Ministry claimed that it had not received the crew list.

According to reports cited in the appeal, data on crew members aboard foreign flights had not been retrieved or checked for approximately two years. The movement therefore demanded an investigation into how information already held by the state failed to result in security screening that could have identified the risk.

The appeal also pointed to warnings issued before the incident that called for changes to the way security screening of foreign flights was conducted. As early as 2024, the State Comptroller recommended regulating responsibility for aviation security and allocating the necessary resources for the task.

Movement for Quality Government says NSC review insufficient

The appeal cited reports showing that the responsibility for securing foreign flights remained with the Transportation Ministry despite a separate recommendation by the National Security Council, and even though personnel in the ministry's security division had warned that they lacked the intelligence tools required to carry out the mission.

The Movement for Quality Government argued that the National Security Council review ordered by the prime minister was insufficient given the severity of the failures and the fact that the NSC had previously examined the issue.

The movement demanded that a government inquiry be established under Section 8A of the Government Law, led by a retired judge, and that the panel be granted investigative powers. The committee should examine how previous warnings were handled, how information about flight crews was used, coordination with intelligence agencies, and the individual and institutional responsibility for any failures identified, the movement said.

Demands establishment of committee immediate action

Alongside the establishment of the committee, the movement demanded immediate action to close the security gaps. It called for a binding procedure governing the transfer, review, and cross-checking of information, as well as an interim arrangement ensuring that an authorized security body actually carries out intelligence screening, with a clear division of responsibility among the relevant agencies.

"The security of passengers must not depend on the bravery of those sitting next to them on the plane," said attorney Dr. Eliad Shraga, chairman of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel.

"The reports paint a grave picture of warnings that went unanswered and information that was in the state's possession but was not examined as required. The public deserves to know who was responsible, what was not done, and how the next disaster will be prevented. A commission of inquiry with investigative powers is required, alongside the immediate correction of the security gaps. We must not wait for a disaster before taking action."