October 7, 2026
An attempt to control a Flydubai flight bound for Israel raised widespread questions about the air traffic control system, following revelations that prior security warnings issued by the Shin Bet General Security Service had been ignored.
According to a report prepared by journalist Nir Dvori and published on the Israeli “Mako” website, in recent months, the Shin Bet sent three separate documents to Transport Minister Miri Regev, the Ministry of Transport, and the National Security Council, in which it warned of serious deficiencies in the procedures for examining flights operated by foreign companies for the benefit of Israeli airlines.
The documents explained that the “wet charter” system – in which the traveler buys his ticket from an Israeli company while the plane is operated by foreign crew and equipment – is not subject to the required security checks. The agency pointed out the inability of the Ministry of Transport to establish a mechanism to evaluate or audit the risks associated with leasing companies, recommending that responsibility for this file be transferred to the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority. However, Transport Minister Miri Regev refused to implement these recommendations, in a move that a senior security official described as being made based on “unprofessional” considerations.
In a related context, in recent days, the Israeli authorities received official investigation reports issued by the authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia regarding the “Flydubai” incident.
Investigations revealed that the co-pilot, Humam Al-Mami, planned the attack with extreme precision with the aim of shooting down the plane inside Israeli territory and not during the flight path. The flight data showed that the pilot of the plane was Smith Machhar, while Al-Mami was the co-pilot suspected of carrying out the control attempt.
These data put the Israeli authorities before critical questions about the repercussions of neglecting security warnings and the absence of effective control mechanisms over foreign flights operated for local airlines.
