Air France bars Pakistani pilots and cabin crew from Israel flights after FlyDubai cockpit incident

Air France has completely barred Pakistani pilots and cabin crew members in its fleet from flying and working on flights to or from Israel. Pakistan and Israel have no official political or diplomatic relations. Citing security, Air France took the step to follow strictly the rules set by Israeli authorities.

Giving an official explanation, Air France said it is its legal responsibility to comply with all security conditions and international rules laid down by the Israeli administration. United Airlines has also included these new nationality criteria in its daily crew scheduling system.

Not only Air France but also airlines such as the US-based United Airlines and the Czech Republic's Smartwings have begun enforcing these rules. Citizens of countries that have no diplomatic relations with Israel are not permitted to fly on this air route or work as crew. A intense debate has begun globally over how such nationality-based restrictions could have a large and complicated impact on international aviation.

A shocking incident on September 30, 2026 is believed to be behind this strict decision. A FlyDubai aircraft from the United Arab Emirates was travelling from Dubai to the Israeli capital Tel Aviv when a dramatic confrontation took place in the cockpit. According to the information received, an Omani co-pilot on the flight had attacked the aircraft's Indian captain during the flight while trying to take complete control of the cockpit. Oman too has no political or diplomatic relations with Israel.

French investigative outlet Mediapart and aviation intelligence company CH-Aviation detailed the case in a report published on October 13, 2026. According to the report, it was after the gravity of the FlyDubai case that Air France and United Airlines immediately imposed these new security restrictions across their entire crew management systems.

The rules were seen in action on Tuesday. While an Ethiopian Airlines passenger aircraft was on a routine flight towards Israel, Israeli air traffic control ordered it to turn back immediately. The reason that emerged was that one of the pilots flying the aircraft was an Indonesian national. Indonesia too has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

When the order was issued, the aircraft had been in the air for about an hour and was still in Ethiopian airspace. Even so, it had to abandon its journey and turn back. Passengers were greatly inconvenienced.

According to aviation experts, the decision is having a serious effect on airlines' crew planning worldwide. The lack of ties between countries such as Pakistan, Oman and Indonesia and Israel is now hitting the pilots and aircraft staff of those countries directly. The world is now watching whether other countries will impose similar restrictions in future.