Ethiopian Airlines Cargo Flight Turned Back Over Indonesian Crew Member

An Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight heading to Ben Gurion Airport was turned back to Addis Ababa after it was discovered that an Indonesian crew member was on board, a country with which Israel has no diplomatic relations. According to Channel 13, the passenger manifest was received only after takeoff, prompting the authorities to deny entry. Unlike the recent security breach involving a flydubai flight, the system successfully flagged the unauthorized presence.

Security Investigation and Flight Suspensions

Meanwhile, a planned high-level meeting between United Arab Emirates officials and senior representatives of the Ministry of Transport was canceled amid an ongoing dispute. The suspension keeps the Tel Aviv-Dubai air route grounded, as differences remain over security protocols and accountability following the thwarted attack plot. Israeli airlines, refusing to wait for final probe conclusions, have initiated independent background checks on foreign crews operating leased aircraft, partnering with Israeli cybersecurity firms to screen social media activity for thousands of personnel.

Official Probes and Civil Service Scrutiny

In related developments, the UAE Attorney General revealed that the co-pilot in the flydubai terror plot, Mamam al-Hamami, had undergone radicalization while studying in Australia in 2017 before joining the airline in January 2026. Concurrently, investigative authorities have launched a formal inquiry into potential conflicts of interest within the Ministry of Transport. Investigators are probing the private employment activities of senior safety officials, including security director Avri Cohen, following disclosures regarding sideline security work abroad that lacked mandatory Civil Service Commission approval.