Israel Faces Scrutiny Over Foreign Pilot Checks

An Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian captain of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, bound from Dubai to Tel Aviv, and tried to take control of the aircraft; it lost altitude before passengers and off-duty pilots intervened, and it made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Investigators are examining reports that the co-pilot may have tried to crash the plane into Israel and shut off its engines. Oman says it barred him from aviation work over concerns about his interest in extremist material and received no foreign requests for background checks; reports say the UAE shared crew and passenger details with Israel before the flight, but accounts differ over what Israeli authorities checked, and reports indicate crew data went unchecked for an extended period despite earlier recommendations. The incident has renewed disputes over responsibility, staffing and information-sharing for security checks on foreign flights: Israeli groups have called for an empowered government inquiry, Netanyahu has ordered a review, and a U.S. delegation is expected to assess Israel’s compliance with Visa Waiver Program security requirements. Separately, Netanyahu faces renewed scrutiny over reports that the UAE and Egypt warned him before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, allegations he disputes or has not publicly addressed; he has declined to establish a state commission of inquiry into the disaster.