Israeli authorities barred pilots from 31 countries, including Indonesia, from operating flights into the nation’s airspace following a security review triggered by a recent Flydubai incident. The ban, announced by Israel’s Ministry of Transport on 1 October 2026, prohibits crew members from nations without diplomatic ties to Israel from operating flights to or through Israeli airspace, according to reports from local media and investigative outlets like Mediapart.
The Ethiopian Airlines flight, en route from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv, was forced to return to Ethiopia on 11 October 2026 after Israeli authorities discovered an Indonesian pilot aboard. The crew’s nationality was disclosed only after the plane had departed, prompting the diversion. The aircraft later jettisoned fuel over the sea before returning to its origin, with a replacement pilot subsequently authorized to land in Israel. The incident followed a 30 September 2026 attempt by an Omani copilot to hijack a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was thwarted by passengers.
Security Measures Tightened After Flydubai Incident
The Israeli Transport Ministry’s directive, issued one day after the Flydubai incident, mandates that airlines avoid assigning crew from nations without diplomatic relations with Israel. The policy applies to pilots, cabin staff, and even passengers, according to reports from Channel 12 and Ynet. The ministry emphasized periodic evaluations of airlines to ensure compliance, citing concerns over past lapses in verifying crew backgrounds. The ban covers 31 countries, including Algeria, Iran, Pakistan, and Indonesia, as noted in a statement by Air France, which confirmed adherence to the rules.
The policy prohibits individuals from these countries from operating flights to or through Israeli airspace, even if they hold dual citizenship. This includes countries such as Afghanistan, Aljazair, Indonesia, Iran, Irak, Kuwait, Niger, Qatar, Arab Saudi, Somalia, and Venezuela, as reported by Anadolu Agency
and Al Jazeera
.
The security review followed an incident on 30 September 2026, when an Omani copilot attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, according to the Israeli and UAE authorities. The copilot reportedly attacked the pilot with a knife and tried to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The attempt was foiled by passengers, as reported by Channel 13
and Ynet
. The UAE Attorney General stated that the copilot’s actions “posed a direct threat to national security,” prompting Israel to tighten aviation security measures.
Impact on International Flights and Crew
Ethiopian Airlines stated it was unaware of the pilot’s ineligibility to fly to Israel, as per a report by Anadolu Agency
. The latest incident underscores ongoing tensions over aviation security and the verification of crew credentials before flights.
The 31 countries affected by the ban include Afghanistan, Aljazair, Indonesia, Iran, Irak, Kuwait, Niger, Qatar, Arab Saudi, Somalia, and Venezuela, according to Antara
and Al Jazeera
.
Maskapai such as Air France have confirmed compliance with the new rules, but experts warn the policy could face legal scrutiny for alleged discrimination. Ethiopian Airlines’ pilot, who was replaced after the 11 October incident, was later cleared to land in Israel, according to Channel 12
.
Israeli authorities also emphasized that the ban applies to all crew members, not just pilots, as per Ynet
. The policy requires airlines to submit crew lists before departure, a measure intended to prevent last-minute discoveries of ineligible personnel. However, the Ethiopian Airlines incident highlighted gaps in this process, as the pilot’s nationality was only revealed after the flight had already taken off.
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