Immigration10/6/2026

Israel to Reassess Screening of Foreign Aircrews Following Flydubai Incident

A Knesset hearing was told that since the beginning of 2026, more than 1,200 aircrew members from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel had entered the country. Following the Flydubai incident, the authorities intend to change the screening rules, but the final procedures are not presented in the source.

Key facts

•Knesset hearing: October 6, 2026
•More than 1,200 crew members since the beginning of 2026
•Countries mentioned: Lebanon, Syria, and Oman
•The review is being conducted by the Ministry of Transport and the security services
•The final new rules have not yet been published

What Emerged in the Knesset

At a hearing held on October 6, 2026, figures were presented showing that more than 1,200 crew members had arrived in Israel since the beginning of the year from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with it. Lebanon, Syria, and Oman were among the countries mentioned. The hearing was held following an incident involving the airline Flydubai.

How Crews Have Been Screened Until Now

The Security Division at the Ministry of Transport stated that it generally does not receive the pilots’ names and does not conduct separate security or intelligence checks on them. The Israeli authorities relied on the airline’s declaration that the pilots had undergone the required checks in accordance with international regulations. Aviation industry representatives were unable to answer unequivocally whether crews from hostile countries had previously entered the country.

What Changes Are Planned

Knesset member Boaz Bismuth said that civil aviation procedures and security oversight must change substantially. The Ministry of Transport and the Israeli security services plan to send a joint delegation to Dubai to formulate a permanent and secure aviation mechanism for Israeli airlines and to discuss the conditions for Flydubai’s return to regular operations in Israel. The source does not report any legislation that has already been approved or any final decision.

Review of Previous Entries

The security services have begun a retrospective review to determine whether pilots and other crew members from Iran, Syria, Oman, Iraq, and other hostile countries entered through Ben Gurion Airport. The report said that the incident exposed a substantial failure in the security and intelligence oversight systems. Apart from clarifying the directives to airlines, no additional special measures had been taken as of the publication date.

What this means for you

For passengers and aviation industry employees, this may lead to stricter advance screening of foreign aircrews and the transfer of additional personal details to Israel. There may be changes to the operations of foreign airlines and flight schedules, but the source does not specify concrete requirements or when they will take effect.

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