Israel aviation security concerns rise after 1,200 crew members from non-diplomatic nations enter

Since the beginning of 2026, more than 1,200 airline crew members from countries that lack diplomatic relations with Israel—including Syria, Lebanon, and Oman—have entered the country. These figures, revealed during a confidential meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, have raised significant concerns regarding the effectiveness of Israel’s screening processes for foreign aviation personnel.

The security lapse gained attention following an attempted attack on a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv. An Omani co-pilot, Imam Al-Hamami, reportedly attempted to take control of the aircraft. Investigations revealed that Al-Hamami had previously been flagged by Omani authorities due to concerns regarding radical ideology and extremist activity. While he was removed from flying duties at Oman Air and placed in an anti-extremism program, this information was not shared with international authorities, allowing him to secure employment with FlyDubai.

Internal documents indicate that the Israeli Ministry of Transport is legally responsible for the security of foreign flights entering its airspace and must enforce strict identity verification protocols. However, current measures have failed to rigorously verify the nationalities and backgrounds of crew members, exposing potential security vulnerabilities.