World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Ethiopian Airlines flight turns back after Israel bars Indonesian pilot
Israel refused landing permission for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Tel Aviv because one of its pilots was Indonesian.
The plane was about an hour into its journey from Addis Ababa and was still in Ethiopian airspace when the order came.
It returned to Addis Ababa, where the airline replaced the pilot and sent the plane back; the flight then landed in Tel Aviv.
Ethiopian Airlines called the incident a mistake and said it did not know the pilot could not operate flights to Israel.
Israel has introduced new restrictions barring some foreign crew members from flights bound for the country if they are from nations without diplomatic relations with Israel.
The restrictions followed an alleged attempt by an Omani co-pilot to hijack and crash a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv last month.
At least 10 African countries are affected, including Algeria, Comoros, Libya, Niger and Somalia.
An Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Tel Aviv turned back after Israel barred it from landing because one pilot was Indonesian.
The aircraft returned to Addis Ababa, where the pilot was replaced, and then departed again for Tel Aviv.
Israel’s restrictions bar crew members from several countries without diplomatic relations with Israel from taking part in Israel-bound flights.
Ethiopian Airlines said the incident was a mistake and that it had not known the pilot could not operate flights to Israel.
- Who
- Ethiopian Airlines and an Indonesian pilot were involved; Israel refused the aircraft permission to land.
- What
- A flight turned back to Addis Ababa, where the pilot was replaced, before departing again and landing in Tel Aviv.
- When
- Between Sunday and Monday; the article was published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- The flight was travelling from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv and was still in Ethiopian airspace when the order was issued.
- Why
- Israel barred the Indonesian pilot under restrictions on crew from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Israel issued the order while the aircraft was still in Ethiopian airspace.
The aircraft returned to Addis Ababa and the Indonesian pilot was replaced.
The aircraft departed again and was allowed to land in Tel Aviv.
- Route
- Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 Max 8
- Pilot
- Indonesian
- Flight outcome
- Returned to Addis Ababa, then departed again and landed in Tel Aviv
- Affected countries
- At least 10 African countries were affected by the restrictions
What people are saying
The incident was a mistake.
Sources
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