On September 30, 2026, an Omani co‑pilot of a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly struck the Indian captain in a bid to seize control, forcing Israeli authorities to tighten their nationality‑based crew restrictions.
Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety issued a directive on October 1, listing 31 Muslim‑majority countries whose nationals may not serve as pilots or cabin crew on flights to or from Israel. The list includes Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Niger.
Air France confirmed it had barred Pakistani staff from Israel routes and instructed employees to disclose any second nationality, warning of disciplinary action for non‑compliance. United Airlines incorporated the restrictions into its crew‑planning software, while Smartwings said the rule had not yet disrupted operations.
An Ethiopian Airlines flight turned back over Addis Ababa after Israeli pilots identified an Indonesian crew member, a national of a non‑friendly state. The carrier called the incident a mistake, noting it had been unaware of the prohibition.
Israel is now demanding that all foreign carriers update their staffing databases within two weeks, a move that could reduce aircraft turnaround times and alter crew assignments on the Tel Aviv corridor.