World · Middle East · 1 day ago
Air France to enforce Israeli restrictions on some crew nationalities
Air France has agreed to follow an Israeli directive that bars airline crew with certain nationalities from flights to Israel.
The restrictions cover 31 nationalities, including Algerian, Tunisian, Iranian and Pakistani, and apply even to crew who also hold French citizenship.
The directive concerns nationality, not religion, but affects people from several Muslim-majority countries.
Israel’s Ministry of Transport reportedly issued the order on 1 October, requiring airlines to keep crew with nationalities of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel out of Israeli airspace.
The order followed an alleged attempt by a flydubai co-pilot to seize control of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight on 30 September; the accounts released by Israeli and UAE authorities have not been independently verified.
Air France has told affected employees they can no longer work flights to Israel and warned them to declare a second nationality.
The airline has not publicly commented, and the restrictions could expose it to a legal challenge in France.
Air France has agreed to enforce Israeli restrictions barring crew members of certain nationalities from flights to Israel, according to a Mediapart investigation reported by Middle East Eye.
The restrictions cover 31 nationalities and also affect French citizens who hold one of them.
Air France told affected employees they could no longer operate flights to Israel and warned staff to declare a second nationality.
Israel’s Ministry of Transport issued the directive on 1 October, requiring airlines to exclude crew with nationality or dual nationality from countries that have no diplomatic relations with Israel.
The directive followed an alleged attempt by a flydubai co-pilot to seize control of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight on 30 September; accounts of the incident have not been independently verified.
- Who
- Air France and crew members holding certain nationalities.
- What
- Air France has agreed to enforce Israeli restrictions barring affected pilots and cabin crew from flights to Israel.
- When
- The Israeli directive was issued on 1 October. The report was published on 10 October 2026.
- Where
- Flights entering Israeli airspace, including flights to Israel.
- Why
- The directive cites nationalities from countries that have no diplomatic relations with Israel. It followed an alleged attempt to seize control of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
An Omani flydubai co-pilot allegedly attempted to seize control of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight.
Israel’s Ministry of Transport issued a directive requiring airlines to exclude crew with nationality or dual nationality from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel.
Air France informed affected employees that they could no longer operate flights to Israel and told staff to declare a second nationality.
Middle East Eye reported on Mediapart’s investigation into Air France’s enforcement of the restrictions.
- Affected nationalities
- 31
- Directive issued
- 1 October
- Alleged flight incident
- Dubai–Tel Aviv flight, 30 September
- Air France response
- No public comment on Mediapart’s findings
- Report publication
- 10 October 2026
Sources
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