Story perspectives

Israel bars airline crews from flights over citizenship

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 2:55 PM UTC · How we work

Center

United African ban

Israeli Ministry of Transport announced on Oct 7 that crew holding citizenship of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel are barred from flights to Israel.
The policy followed a Sept 30 FlyDubai incident where an Omani co-pilot attacked the captain, forcing diversion to Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tasked Shmuel Ben Ezra with reviewing civil aviation security.
United Airlines memo listed 29 prohibited countries, including ten African nations.

Left

Discriminatory security policy

On Oct 7, Israel’s Ministry of Transport barred airline crew who hold citizenship of countries without diplomatic relations from operating flights to or from Israel.
The policy treats all listed nationals as security risks, prompting French anti-discrimination lawyer Clara Gandin to argue it violates Article L1132-1 of the French Labour Code.
Air France warned staff that non-compliance could trigger disciplinary sanctions.
The restrictions cover 31 nationalities, including Algeria, Tunisia, Iran and Pakistan.

1 of 2

United African ban

Israeli Ministry of Transport announced on Oct 7 that crew holding citizenship of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel are barred from flights to Israel.
The policy followed a Sept 30 FlyDubai incident where an Omani co-pilot attacked the captain, forcing diversion to Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tasked Shmuel Ben Ezra with reviewing civil aviation security.
United Airlines memo listed 29 prohibited countries, including ten African nations.

1 / 2