Flydubai has reportedly dismissed a significant number of employees after completing an internal review of the attempted terrorist attack aboard its Israel-bound flight, while Israeli officials are advancing changes to the screening of incoming passengers and aircrew.

The airline’s chief executive and senior United Arab Emirates officials informed Israel that the internal investigation had concluded and identified several failures. Flydubai reportedly fired a “significant number” of employees connected to the areas where those failures occurred.

Following the review and disciplinary measures, the airline asked Transportation Minister Miri Regev to permit the resumption of flights to Israel.

Meanwhile, proposed Israeli security changes were presented during a closed-door meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee’s intelligence subcommittee, chaired by MK Boaz Bismuth.

A central measure would establish a list of countries considered to pose a heightened threat. The National Security Council would coordinate that process with the Mossad and Shin Bet.

Under the proposed framework, details of aircrew from those countries would be submitted to Israel 48 hours before their flights, allowing security agencies to conduct checks and provide approval in advance.

Procedures for passengers and crew holding passports from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel are also expected to change. At the Transportation Ministry’s request, the Population and Immigration Authority would forward the relevant lists to the ministry’s security division.

The discussion also clarified that responsibility for checking passengers’ and aircrew members’ passports rests with the Population and Immigration Authority, working through the National Security Council, and that the necessary information must reach the relevant agencies.

The measures are intended to strengthen screening and information-sharing following the Flydubai incident and prevent a similar attack.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)