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Security Cabinet Orders flydubai to Suspend Israel Flights

By Drooid · Oct 5, 2026, 2:17 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

An Omani flydubai pilot attempted to hijack a flight to Israel, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on September 30, 2026.
Transportation Ministry official Dvir Rubinstein received payments from flydubai and Emirates while overseeing their security approvals.
Minister Miri Regev said the ministry does not run background checks on foreign pilots and Mossad handles their security vetting.
The security cabinet ordered flydubai to suspend Israel flights until the investigation ends.

History

Historical Context

In July 1976 Israeli commandos from Sayeret Matkal stormed Entebbe Airport in Uganda, rescuing 102 of 106 hostages after a Palestinian-German hijacking, while commander Yonatan Netanyahu was killed. The raid reshaped aviation security, and its memory resurfaced after a September 30 2026 attempted flydubai hijack by a pilot bound for Israel, prompting renewed scrutiny of pilot vetting.

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Story summary

An Omani flydubai pilot attempted to hijack a flight to Israel, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on September 30, 2026.
Transportation Ministry official Dvir Rubinstein received payments from flydubai and Emirates while overseeing their security approvals.
Minister Miri Regev said the ministry does not run background checks on foreign pilots and Mossad handles their security vetting.
The security cabinet ordered flydubai to suspend Israel flights until the investigation ends.

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