Flydubai Hijack Attempt: How Did Co-Pilot Bypass Israel's Security Checks?

Three days after the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight was foiled by Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, questions are growing over how the Omani co-pilot was able to carry out the attack despite multiple layers of pre-flight scrutiny. Israel’s flight clearance process includes operating approval, security clearance, advance passenger and crew data, and checks of crew credentials. The incident has now sparked a wider debate over gaps in cross-border pilot vetting, with aviation experts calling for a stronger global system to flag potential security risks involving flight crew.