Netanyahu orders security inspections of foreign airlines flying to Israel
In short
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered tighter security checks on foreign airlines operating flights to Israel, with the head of the National Security Council, Shmuel Ben-Ezra, tasked with appointing an inspector for foreign civil aviation security, his office said. RBC reported the order followed an incident aboard a flydubai aircraft, which it did not describe. RIA Novosti said the instruction covered thorough checks of foreign airline pilots.
Read the full story 1 min read
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered reinforced security measures for foreign airlines operating flights to Israel, according to the official outlets RIA Novosti and TASS and the business outlet RBC. The prime minister's office tasked the head of Israel's National Security Council, Shmuel Ben-Ezra, with appointing an inspector for foreign civil aviation security, RBC reported. TASS said Netanyahu had earlier ordered tighter security on all flights heading to Israel, including foreign ones. None of the documents said which airlines or routes would be affected or when the checks would begin. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The outlets described the scope of the instruction differently. RIA Novosti said Netanyahu ordered thorough checks of pilots of foreign airlines, while TASS and RBC referred to a security inspector for foreign aviation. RBC reported the order came after an incident aboard a flydubai aircraft and attributed the information to the prime minister's office. No details of that incident were reported in any of the documents. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The directive concerns foreign carriers serving Israel, so airlines and their crews flying there could face additional screening. Because the documents give no details of the flydubai incident, the practical scope of the checks and any effect on flight schedules remain unspecified.
Key facts
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered reinforced security checks on foreign airlines operating flights to Israel. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The head of Israel's National Security Council, Shmuel Ben-Ezra, was tasked with appointing an inspector for foreign civil aviation security. [ 2 , 3 ]
- RBC reported the order followed an incident aboard a flydubai aircraft. [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti said the instruction covered thorough checks of foreign airline pilots. [ 1 ]
- TASS said Netanyahu had earlier ordered tighter security on all flights heading to Israel, including foreign ones. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The nature, timing and consequences of the flydubai incident that RBC says preceded the order. Only RBC mentions the incident and gives no details, so it is a single-source claim without description.
- Whether the checks are aimed specifically at pilots or at foreign civil aviation more broadly. RIA Novosti refers to checking foreign airline pilots, while TASS and RBC describe an inspector for foreign civil aviation or foreign flights.
- Which airlines or routes are affected and when the measures take effect. None of the documents state the scope, list of carriers or a start date.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports that Netanyahu ordered thorough checks of pilots of foreign airlines. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports Netanyahu ordered a security inspector to be appointed for foreign aviation, after an earlier instruction to strengthen security on all flights heading to Israel. [ 2 ]
- RBC reports the order followed an incident aboard a flydubai aircraft, with National Security Council head Shmuel Ben-Ezra told to appoint the inspector. [ 3 ]