Israel Bans Flight Crews From Thirty One Nations

Israel has enforced strict new airspace restrictions targeting commercial flight crews based on their nationality. French national carrier Air France confirmed its compliance with the updated Israeli civil aviation mandate on Thursday (October 15, 2026). According to Israeli media and French investigative publication Mediapart, the Israeli Ministry of Transport issued the directive blacklisting crews from 31 Muslim-majority nations, including Bangladesh, Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Niger. Under these revised aeronautical protocols, citizens of these designated nations are barred from operating flights within Israeli airspace.

The regulatory directive follows an alleged hijacking attempt involving an Omani co-pilot aboard a Flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident resulted in an assault on the aircraft’s Indian captain, who remains hospitalized. Consequently, Israeli transport authorities issued the updated security clearance protocols.

In a statement provided to Al Jazeera, Air France stated that like all international air carriers, it is bound to comply with entry and airspace restrictions mandated by local aviation authorities in destination countries. The airline confirmed that affected flight crews operating Tel Aviv routes have been formally notified. Czech carrier Smartwings also confirmed compliance, while internal Air France memos warned of potential regulatory sanctions in the event of non-compliance.

However, French legal experts caution that adhering to these restrictions puts Air France in direct conflict with European employment legislation. Paris-based anti-discrimination attorney Clara Gandin characterized the restriction as systemic discrimination. Citing Article L1132-1 of the French Labor Code, she noted that reassigning or restricting flight duties based solely on real or perceived nationality constitutes unlawful discrimination. Legal analysts emphasize that aviation security should be managed through individual security vetting rather than blanket bans based on nationality. //DBTech/BNN/GEPR/SVP/MIST//