Flydubai fallout: Air France abides by Israeli ban on crew from Pakistan, 30 other countries | Today’s news
Air France has confirmed that it is complying with new Israeli restrictions that prohibit pilots and cabin crew who are nationals, including dual nationals, of countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel from flying to or through the country.
The restrictions reportedly apply to citizens of 31 countries, including Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Algeria, Al Jazeera reported, citing Israeli media reports and French investigative publication Mediapart.
The move raised concerns about possible discrimination against airline employees based on their nationality and legal implications for international carriers operating flights to Israel.
“Like all airlines, Air France must comply with entry regulations set by the authorities of the countries it serves, both for its customers and employees,” Al Jazeera quoted the company as saying.
An internal memo to Air France pilots and cabin crew, seen by Mediapart, reportedly warned that failure to comply with the directive could expose both the airline and the employee concerned to sanctions.
What are the new Israeli restrictions on airline crew?
Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety notified foreign airlines on Oct. 1 that pilots and cabin crew operating flights into Israeli airspace may not hold nationalities, including dual nationalities, of countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, Israeli station N12 reported.
The restrictions reportedly apply to citizens of 31 countries, although United Airlines’ internal flight schedule reportedly lists 29.
Affected countries include Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, and Yemen, among others.
The directive could affect international airlines that employ pilots and cabin crew from these countries, possibly requiring changes in crew assignments on flights to Israel.
The Flydubai incident preceded the directive
The restrictions were reportedly tightened after the incident on the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.
According to Al Jazeera, citing Emirati and Israeli authorities, the Omani co-pilot allegedly assaulted the Indian captain and tried to hijack the plane. The co-pilot was also charged with attempting to crash the plane into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
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The Indian captain was reportedly injured in the incident and is recovering in hospital.
An Israeli directive was issued the following day, although the exact relationship between the incident and the imposition of restrictions was not independently established in available reports.
Which other airlines are following the restrictions?
Air France is not the only carrier to have dealt with the Israeli directive.
Smartwings, the largest airline in the Czech Republic, confirmed acceptance of the guidelines and stated that they will comply with the applicable requirements.
“We received the directive from the Israeli authorities in September 2026. We have carefully reviewed the directive and continue to monitor and comply with all relevant requirements issued by the relevant authorities,” Smartwings spokeswoman Vladimira Dufková told Al Jazeera.
The airline said the directive did not affect its operations, crew management procedures or the deployment of crew members on flights to and from Israel.
United Airlines also reportedly informed pilots and cabin crew about nationality-based restrictions. But the US carrier declined to provide further details when contacted by Al Jazeera, and would not confirm whether it had received the Israeli directive or taken steps in response.
Could restrictions affect international airlines?
The Israeli directive could have implications for a number of international airlines operating flights to, from or over Israel.
Airlines employing crew members from affected countries may need to review staffing arrangements to ensure compliance with the restrictions.
The requirements could also raise questions about employment practices and the treatment of workers based on nationality.
The policy has come under scrutiny because it applies not only to nationals of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, but also to dual nationals.