Senior Israeli Transportation Official Questioned as Flydubai Investigation Widens
A senior official in Israel’s Transportation Ministry was questioned Wednesday by the Lahav 433 police investigative unit as authorities expanded their investigation into alleged security failures involving Flydubai flights, according to a report by Channel 13 News.
The official, who holds a senior position in the ministry’s security division, was questioned on suspicion of a conflict of interest connected to the aviation security affair. The investigation is examining whether serious deficiencies in the oversight and operation of flight security arrangements developed over several years.
Police are also investigating possible improper relationships between officials responsible for aviation security and foreign airlines operating in Israel, raising questions about whether private business interests interfered with their professional responsibilities.
According to the report, investigators have broadened their inquiry in recent days and are preparing to question additional senior Transportation Ministry officials and others involved in managing and supervising aviation security operations.
Two additional individuals have emerged as subjects of the investigation.
Avri Cohen is expected to be questioned over allegations that he served as a security officer for the Israel Airports Authority without obtaining the required authorization. Investigators are examining whether his employment in that capacity violated applicable security requirements.
Another official, Dvir Rubinstein, who serves as director of the Aviation Security Operations Center, is expected to face questioning over suspected conflicts of interest.
In Rubinstein’s case, investigators are focusing on his connections with foreign airlines and his private business dealings with those companies. Police are examining whether those relationships created conflicts with his official duties or compromised his ability to properly supervise flight security arrangements.
The investigation has raised broader concerns about the effectiveness of the oversight mechanisms responsible for ensuring that aviation security personnel comply with professional standards and regulatory requirements.
Authorities are examining how the alleged irregularities were permitted to continue and whether officials responsible for monitoring the system failed to identify or address potential problems.
The case centers on security arrangements involving Flydubai, the Dubai-based airline that operates flights between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The reported investigation is focused on the conduct of Israeli officials and the security oversight system, rather than on allegations of wrongdoing by the airline itself.
Police are expected to continue collecting testimony and examining the activities of additional individuals as they attempt to determine the extent of the alleged security failures and establish who may bear responsibility.
No findings of criminal wrongdoing have been established against the individuals named in the report, and the allegations remain under investigation.
