Israel bars flight crews by nationality from Tel Aviv flights after alleged flydubai attack
Israel has told foreign airlines that pilots and cabin crew holding the nationality of 31 mostly Muslim-majority countries may not fly into its airspace, and Air France says it is complying. The rule followed an alleged attempt on 30 September to crash a flydubai flight into Ben Gurion airport.
The directive
Israel's Ministry of Transport and Road Safety told foreign airlines on 1 October that pilots and cabin crew flying into Israeli airspace must not hold the nationality or dual nationality of countries that lack diplomatic relations with Israel, according to Israel's N12 broadcaster. Walla reported that the restriction covers 31 countries, mostly Muslim-majority, even when a crew member also holds a second passport. The ban also reaches citizens of Western countries who hold the citizenship of a restricted state, according to the industry portal Paddle Your Own Kanoo, which Walla cited. Israeli media and the French investigative publication Mediapart reported a list that includes Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Niger. Media reports say United Airlines has already circulated an internal memo to its crews about the new limits, and that other foreign airlines serving Israel reportedly received similar instructions.
- Alleged attempt to crash a flydubai flight from Dubai into Tel Aviv
- Israeli Transport Ministry tells foreign airlines the crew nationality rule applies
- Walla reports the ban covers 31 countries, including dual nationals
- Air France confirms compliance as Al Jazeera and The Telegraph report on the rule
The flydubai incident
The directive followed an alleged attempt on 30 September to hijack a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to Emirati and Israeli authorities, an Omani copilot attacked the plane's Indian pilot, who has been recovering in hospital, and tried to take control of the aircraft in order to crash it into Ben Gurion airport. Israeli media report that passengers and two off-duty pilots intervened and foiled the attack. The copilot is accused of the attack, and the reports describe his role as alleged rather than established in court. Israeli authorities have tied the new crew rules directly to this incident.
Airlines respond
Air France confirmed that it is complying with the new Israeli restrictions, which limit who can fly to and over Israel based on nationality. The airline told Al Jazeera in a statement:
Like all airlines, Air France is required to comply with the entry regulations established by the authorities of the countries it serves, both for its customers and employees,
Air France added that the staff concerned had been told about the changes. In a second statement to Al Jazeera, the airline said:
The staff concerned have been informed of the new regulations implemented by the Israeli authorities for flights to Tel Aviv.
Smartwings, the Czech Republic's largest airline, confirmed that it had received the directive and said its operations were not affected at present. The airline added that it would comply with the restrictions. Smartwings said it received the directive in September 2026, while N12 gives 1 October as the date the ministry told airlines. Al Jazeera contacted 15 international airlines flying to Israel to ask whether they had received the directive and changed crew assignments in response.
Enforcement and legal exposure
The Telegraph reports that Israel turned away an Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Tel Aviv because of the nationality of one of its pilots, in what appears to be a stricter enforcement of the rules. The directive could affect dozens of airlines that fly to, from or over Israel, according to Al Jazeera. Some experts cited by Al Jazeera say the policy could expose airlines to discrimination lawsuits. The Israeli Transport Ministry had not responded to Al Jazeera's request for comment by the time that report was published on 13 October.
