On October 1, Israel’s aviation ministry announced new rules that prevent pilots and cabin crew holding nationalities of 24 countries without diplomatic ties from flying into Israeli airspace. The directive follows a September 30 hijacking attempt on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, in which an Omani co‑pilot tried to seize the aircraft and direct it toward Ben‑Gurion Airport.
The ministry had first warned foreign carriers on September 1, but the final list of banned nationalities was published only after the incident. Among those affected are Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Tunisia, as reported by Haaretz.
Air France sent an internal memo to pilots and cabin crew outlining the new restrictions, while United Airlines notified its employees via an internal communication. Both airlines have begun reassigning crews to ensure compliance with the rule.
The policy effectively suspends flight operations for crews from more than two dozen nations, potentially reshaping crew assignments across airlines that maintain routes to Israel. Some carriers have already begun adjusting their flight schedules and crew rotations to avoid violations.
Israel’s aviation authorities will monitor adherence to the directive and may extend or tighten restrictions if further incidents occur. Airlines that fail to comply could face grounding of flights or penalties from Israeli regulators.