World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Israel turns back Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight over Indonesian pilot
Israel turned back an Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight bound for Tel Aviv after learning that one of its pilots was Indonesian.
The plane returned to Addis Ababa, where the pilot was replaced, and then continued to Israel and landed.
Ethiopian Airlines said the incident was a mistake, adding that it had not known the pilot could not operate flights to Israel.
The decision followed new Israeli restrictions on pilots from 31 countries, including countries with no diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israel introduced the restrictions after an Omani co-pilot allegedly tried to hijack a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv.
The episode highlights how the rules affect airline crews, but a representative for Ethiopian Airlines said passenger flights between Addis Ababa and Tel Aviv would not be affected.
Israel refused landing permission to an Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight because one of its pilots was Indonesian, and the aircraft returned to Addis Ababa.
The pilot was replaced, and the flight later continued to Tel Aviv and landed.
Ethiopian Airlines said the incident was a mistake and that it had not known the pilot could not operate flights to Israel.
The incident followed Israeli restrictions barring pilots from several countries without diplomatic relations with Israel from Israel-bound flights.
- Who
- Ethiopian Airlines and Israeli authorities; one pilot on the flight was an Indonesian citizen.
- What
- Israel refused the flight permission to land, so it returned to Addis Ababa, where the pilot was replaced before it continued to Tel Aviv.
- When
- Between Sunday and Monday, according to Africanews; the articles were published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- The flight was travelling from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv.
- Why
- Israeli restrictions barred pilots from some countries, including Indonesia, from operating Israel-bound flights.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An Omani co-pilot allegedly attempted to hijack and crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Israel announced restrictions on pilots from countries it considers hostile or with which it has no diplomatic relations.
Israeli authorities refused an Ethiopian Airlines flight permission to land because one pilot was Indonesian.
The Indonesian pilot was replaced, and the aircraft continued to Tel Aviv and landed.
- Flight route
- Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv
- Pilot nationality
- Indonesian
- Return airport
- Addis Ababa
- Israeli restrictions
- Pilots from 31 nationalities affected, according to Middle East Eye
- Flight outcome
- Pilot replaced; aircraft later landed in Tel Aviv
What people are saying
the incident was a mistake
passenger flights to Tel Aviv or from it to Addis Ababa
Sources
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