Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 30: Israel has tightened aviation security requirements for domestic and foreign airlines, introducing advance crew-data submissions and additional screening of international travellers following an alleged attempt by a flydubai co-pilot to seize control of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and crash it, an incident that exposed security concerns surrounding commercial air travel.
Under the revised directives, airlines must submit details of their crew members at least 48 hours before departure. Any changes to the information must be communicated no later than two hours before take-off, while a final crew list must be provided at the time of departure, according to a report by The Times of Israel.
The measures follow a security review reportedly ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow authorities sufficient time to conduct background checks on aviation personnel and travellers.
Israel’s National Center for Passenger Data Analysis, operating under the Tax Authority, issued the instructions, which apply to all incoming and outgoing flights operated by Israeli and foreign carriers.
The new rules also extend scrutiny to non-Israeli nationals travelling to and from the country. According to Channel 13 News, as cited by The Times of Israel, foreign pilots, cabin crew members and passengers must complete an online information form 48 hours before entering Israel. The Population Authority will examine the submissions.
Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad and Shin Bet, have also identified certain countries as high-risk destinations, classified as “red”. Travellers from these countries will face additional scrutiny of their entry declarations and visa applications, Channel 13 reported.
The changes further expand the responsibilities of Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency. Previously tasked with overseeing security arrangements for Israeli airlines and providing protection for flights departing the country, it will now also supervise security procedures for foreign airlines arriving in Israel and at their overseas departure points.
The tightened requirements come a month after an incident aboard a flydubai flight carrying Israeli passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. UAE prosecutors confirmed that co-pilot Hamam Al Hamami carried out a terrorist attack after allegedly assaulting Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe inside the cockpit.
Despite sustaining serious injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing other crew members and passengers to intervene and prevent a potential disaster. Israeli passengers were among those who tackled the co-pilot.
Earlier this week, the UAE recognised the crew’s response to the incident. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Machchhar and the other crew members involved.
The incident has drawn international attention, with leaders in India, the UAE, Israel and the United States acknowledging the actions taken during the emergency.
