Netanyahu calls for full security review of foreign flights to Israel after Flydubai incident

Following an attempted terrorist attack on Flydubai Flight 1073, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a full review of security measures for civilian flights operated by foreign airlines to Israel.

The Prime Minister’s Office announced that Netanyahu had tasked National Security Council chief Shmuel Ben Ezra with appointing an inspector to verify in detail “all aspects” of security on international flights.

The initiative aims to examine the procedures currently in place and how they are implemented, while seeking to identify possible weaknesses in the oversight of foreign airlines operating flights to Israel.

According to The Times of Israel, the incident has revived discussions about warnings previously issued by senior Israeli officials. For years, they have expressed concern that the Ministry of Transport was not properly carrying out security checks on flights operated by foreign airlines.

Netanyahu’s decision comes at a time when authorities are facing questions about the current system for security checks and oversight on international flights to the country.