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Air France Bans Pilots and Crew from 31 Countries Over New Israeli Restrictions
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Firstpost•13-10-2026, 18:53
Air France Bans Pilots and Crew from 31 Countries Over New Israeli Restrictions
- •Air France has confirmed it is complying with new Israeli restrictions that bar pilots and cabin crew holding nationalities of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel from flying to or over the country.
- •The policy reportedly affects nationals of 31 countries, including Pakistan, Algeria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
- •The directive was issued following an alleged hijacking attempt on a Flydubai flight by an Omani co-pilot traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.
- •Smartwings also confirmed receiving the Israeli directive, though it stated operations remain unaffected, while United Airlines declined to comment.
- •An internal memo warned Air France staff that failing to comply with the new directive could expose both the airline and employees to potential sanctions.
Key Questions Answered
Air France complied with new Israeli restrictions barring flight crew holding nationalities of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel. This directive follows an incident where an Omani co-pilot allegedly attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight on September 30, 2026.
The policy affects nationals of 31 countries that lack diplomatic ties with Israel, including Pakistan, Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Niger.
The directive was issued after an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked an Indian pilot and attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026.
