Former Ben Gurion Employee Reveals Enemy State Flight Crews Accessed Israel
A former Ben Gurion Airport worker revealed she processed flight crews from enemy states, as Israel investigates pilots with dual nationalities following a recent hijacking attempt.
A former Ben Gurion Airport employee revealed in an interview with N12 on Sunday that she personally processed flight crew members holding passports from enemy states, including Lebanon and Syria, during her employment at the airport. Such security oversights have reportedly existed across various airlines for years.
Investigation into Enemy State Pilots
The revelation comes amid ongoing security investigations into whether pilots and crew members holding dual citizenship from hostile nations, including Iran, have landed at Ben Gurion Airport in recent years. Authorities are currently examining potential security breaches following the recent attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight en route to Israel.
We processed flight attendants and pilots with Lebanese, Syrian, and other enemy passports. It is bizarre how easily this passed through systems, said the former employee.
Security Response and Investigations
Israeli authorities confirmed they are investigating the background of pilots with dual citizenships from countries such as Iran, Syria, and Iraq. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation's security division held a briefing with journalists, denying claims that advance crew manifests were thoroughly pre-screened by state intelligence.
Officials stated that security checks rely heavily on airlines and their home countries. Consequently, Flydubai suspended its flights to Israel while authorities investigate whether the incident involved a lone-wolf attacker.
