Concerns Raised Over Airline Employee Vetting Following Flydubai Incident
The recent attempted hijacking of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 by its co-pilot has sparked renewed discussions about the importance of thoroughly vetting airline personnel.
A report from Germany’s Die Welt highlighted on Friday that rapidly expanding Asian airlines may not be implementing adequate “social controls” as they increase their workforce.
It noted, “The low-cost airline Flydubai, which just started operations 17 years ago, has quickly grown to nearly one hundred aircraft, serving around 16 million passengers annually.” This rapid growth, while impressive, raises concerns.
According to Die Welt, Flydubai represents the swift expansion of aviation in Asia, which has led to the creation of new airlines and routes at a breakneck speed—along with potential new risks.
In the Asia-Pacific region, there’s an projected need for approximately 268,000 additional pilots and 298,000 more maintenance technicians within the next 15 years to meet increasing demand. However, drawing personnel from such a vast and diverse area poses challenges, particularly given the differing standards for safety and employee vetting among nations.
In Israel, controversy is growing over the co-pilot of Flight FZ1073. It is generally understood that inbound flights to Israel should be operated by crews from countries that have diplomatic ties with Israel, and Oman does not fall into that category.
Israel is considered to have some of the world’s most stringent aviation security measures. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also prides itself on maintaining high standards for its airlines, yet an Omani national ended up as the pilot of the plane on Wednesday, raising serious questions.
Aviation security specialists informed NBC News that Israel has relied on airlines like Flydubai to ensure their flight crews fulfill the necessary requirements. However, following the close call of Wednesday’s incident, one can expect regulations to tighten significantly.
Die Welt also noted another concerning aspect: the rapid proliferation of airlines means that the bond among pilots and airline crew has weakened. It’s becoming more likely that pilots may not even know each other well before flying together, and language differences could complicate communication.
This year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a warning about an “unprecedented talent challenge” looming over the industry, as the fast pace of airline expansion and advancements in technology are making it increasingly difficult to find adequately skilled pilots and staff.
IATA has urged airline human resources departments to adapt their hiring processes, suggesting that an accelerated hiring pace could lead to compromised employee vetting. Additionally, increasing “workplace flexibility” may result in pilots from vastly different cultures and security backgrounds working side by side, potentially exacerbating the situation.
