The hijacking of a Flydubai flight that landed in Israel has shifted from being hailed as a miraculous survival story to a focus of intense scrutiny over intelligence shortcomings. While the initial response praised the resilience of those on board and was marked by public support from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, mounting questions about security lapses have come to the forefront as the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks approaches.

The co-pilot involved in the hijacking, Hamam al-Hammami, has been identified not only as an adversary of Israel but also as someone with known associations to al-Qaeda. Reports indicate he spent a significant time living in Syria during his formative years. Despite these connections, Hammami was still permitted to serve as co-pilot on flights entering Israeli airspace on multiple occasions, an allowance that has become a central point of criticism.

Media coverage has increasingly portrayed the incident as a failure of the Israeli intelligence and security apparatus rather than a singular act of defiance. A former Mossad official defended the agency, noting that it has already undergone extensive restructuring following its inability to prevent the October 7 attacks. However, concerns persist that the agencies tasked with national security did not adequately coordinate or act on available information.

Prior warnings had been raised for years regarding insufficient vetting procedures by the transport ministry for airlines operating flights to Israel. Leaked reports and internal disputes point to a lack of clarity in responsibility between the transport ministry, Mossad, the Shin Bet domestic security agency, and other governmental bodies. Prime Minister Netanyahu referred to the resulting vulnerabilities as “loopholes” that extremists could exploit.

Hammami’s personal details were reportedly accessible to multiple intelligence services and government departments, yet no effective intervention occurred. Both Mossad and Shin Bet have faced criticism not only for failing to anticipate the October 7 attacks but also for their handling of flight security in this case, amid allegations that political considerations have influenced agency appointments.

Calls for greater transparency and accountability have intensified, but no significant procedural reforms are expected before Israel’s upcoming general election. Opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed concern over public safety assurances, emphasizing the need for dedicated leadership that takes full responsibility for citizen lives. “Imagine that you have to board a flight with a baby and a four-year-old, and you hear a government representative say about the Flydubai flight: ‘There is no 100 per cent guarantee that this won’t happen again,’” Lapid said, underscoring the urgency of addressing security weaknesses.