Israel’s Tax Authority has confirmed that the crew manifest from the FlyDubai flight was transferred to a national data analysis center tasked with identifying potential security threats among passengers and crew. The revelation raises fresh questions about what screening measures were performed on the co-pilot who attempted to hijack the aircraft, and whether the National Passenger and Crew Data Analysis Center (MALLAN) identified warning signs that were overlooked.
The disclosure comes in the aftermath of the failed hijacking attempt on the Dubai-bound flight, an incident that has prompted Israeli security officials and lawmakers to scrutinize how individuals with extremist connections or behavioral red flags manage to board commercial aircraft. The involvement of the Tax Authority—which houses MALLAN—raises broader questions about data sharing between Israeli security agencies and whether existing intelligence infrastructure is being used effectively to prevent attacks.
Understanding MALLAN and Israeli Security Infrastructure
MALLAN (Merkaz Leulalut Netunim Nosim ve-Anshei Tzevet, or National Passenger and Crew Data Analysis Center) operates under Israel’s Tax Authority and is designed to analyze patterns in passenger and crew data to identify anomalies and potential security risks before flights depart. The center uses algorithmic analysis and data mining to flag individuals whose travel patterns, communications, or background information suggest they may pose a threat to aviation security. For international readers unfamiliar with Israeli security apparatus, MALLAN represents one of Israel’s attempts to integrate civilian data analysis with counter-terrorism efforts—similar in concept to systems used by other nations’ aviation security agencies, though operating within Israel’s unique regulatory framework.
The Tax Authority’s role in housing this sensitive security function reflects a structural reality in Israeli government: data collection and analysis capabilities are often centralized in unexpected agencies. The Tax Authority, with its mandate to track financial transactions and maintain databases of Israeli citizens and residents, serves as an administrative hub with significant computational and data-matching resources that other security agencies can access.
What Screening Was Actually Performed?
According to the Tax Authority’s acknowledgment, the FlyDubai crew list was indeed transmitted to MALLAN for analysis. However, critical details remain unclear: What specific checks were performed on the co-pilot before the flight was cleared for departure? Did the system flag any warning indicators in his background, travel history, or communications? If warnings were generated, were they acted upon in time? The answers to these questions will determine whether MALLAN functioned as intended or whether gaps in the screening process allowed a known or detectable risk to board the aircraft.
Israeli security officials have previously indicated that the co-pilot had extremist ideological leanings and a history of concerning behavior, though the precise nature and timeline of these indicators remain classified or disputed among different security agencies. If MALLAN possessed access to information about these red flags, the failure to prevent his boarding would suggest either a systemic breakdown in data processing, a failure to act on intelligence, or gaps in what information MALLAN actually had access to.
Broader Questions About Intelligence Coordination
The incident underscores long-standing challenges in Israeli security coordination. The country’s security apparatus comprises multiple agencies—the Shin Bet (General Security Service), Mossad (foreign intelligence), the Shabak (domestic security), the National Police, and aviation security units—each maintaining separate databases and protocols. While these agencies are supposed to share critical intelligence, information silos and bureaucratic delays have historically hindered real-time threat assessment.
The involvement of the Tax Authority’s MALLAN in aviation security vetting may itself indicate an institutional workaround: because the Tax Authority maintains comprehensive financial and identification records, it became the repository for passenger data analysis. However, this arrangement may create additional layers of bureaucracy that slow down threat assessment at critical moments.
Political and Public Accountability
The revelation is likely to intensify calls from Israeli lawmakers and civil society for a comprehensive security audit of how the failed hijacking attempt was able to occur. Parliamentary committees may demand detailed briefings on what information MALLAN possessed about the co-pilot, when it was acquired, and why it did not prevent his boarding. Questions will also focus on whether the same gaps in screening or intelligence sharing exist for other flights and whether security protocols have been adequately updated in response.
Public trust in aviation security is a sensitive matter in Israel, where commercial aviation has historically been a target for terrorist attacks and hijackings. Any perception that existing security systems failed to identify and stop a known or detectable threat can undermine confidence in the safety of Israeli-based airlines and airports.
What Comes Next
Expect further revelations about the co-pilot’s background, movements, and communications in coming weeks. Security officials are likely preparing detailed reports for classified briefings with parliamentary oversight committees. The incident may also prompt legislation or regulatory changes requiring airlines to integrate more directly with MALLAN and other security centers, or it may result in calls to consolidate fragmented intelligence databases into a more unified system.
Additionally, international aviation partners and regulatory bodies may demand greater transparency about how Israeli carriers vet crew members, potentially affecting El Al and other Israeli airlines’ operations and reputation in international markets.
Source: Globes — Translated and expanded by Israel Daily Journal
