New Delhi: Air France has barred Pakistani pilots and cabin crew members from operating flights to and from Israel following reinforced entry rules for airline personnel from countries that lack formal diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. The adjustment comes in the wake of an attempted security incident involving an Omani co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight on September 30. Oman is among the nations that do not maintain diplomatic ties with Israel.
Following the French carrier's decision regarding flight crews from 31 affected nations, Chicago-based United Airlines has similarly briefed its pilots and cabin staff on new nationality-based regulations for Tel Aviv routes. These developments have sparked broader discussions across the international aviation sector regarding regulatory compliance and whether additional global carriers will adopt similar staffing limitations.
Reports from French investigative outlet Mediapart and aviation intelligence provider ch-aviation indicate that both airlines updated their personnel regarding the Israeli directives. While Air France confirmed it is adhering to local entry prerequisites, United Airlines has integrated the protocols into its crew-scheduling framework. Additionally, Czech carrier Smartwings stated it will respect the regulations, though its current staffing rosters have not experienced immediate disruptions.
The underlying guidelines bar crew members holding citizenship—or dual citizenship—from specific countries without diplomatic ties from working on affected flights. Internal documentation from United Airlines highlights nearly 30 restricted countries, encompassing Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Although these guidelines existed prior to the recent FlyDubai incident, enforcement was historically loose. Israeli authorities traditionally expected foreign carriers to self-police crew eligibility, as the Shin Bet security service and the transportation ministry lacked the intelligence infrastructure to systematically track airline rosters. Consequently, flight deck and cabin personnel from nations like Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Lebanon regularly operated flights into Tel Aviv.
Stricter enforcement was immediately visible when an Ethiopian Airlines flight was forced to turn back while still in Ethiopian airspace after Israeli officials flagged an Indonesian pilot on board. The aircraft returned to Addis Ababa for a crew replacement before successfully completing its journey to Tel Aviv. Ethiopian Airlines characterized the incident as an oversight resulting from a lack of awareness regarding the pilot restriction.
Air France confirmed its compliance to international media, emphasizing that it must adhere to the lawful entry mandates set by destination governments for both passengers and workers. Internal communications from the French airline reportedly instructed staff to declare any secondary nationalities, carrying potential disciplinary measures for non-compliance. While management initially weighed a voluntary declaration process, intervention from the Alter flight deck union led the airline to alter its approach following concerns over nationality-based differentiation.