Israel restricts airline crew members from around 30 countries following Flydubai incident

Thursday 15 - 16:18

By: Azzat Manal

Israel restricts airline crew members from around 30 countries following Flydubai incident

Israel has tightened its aviation rules, barring foreign airlines from assigning crew members holding certain nationalities to flights operating through Israeli airspace. The measures reportedly affect citizens of around 30 countries and follow a review of shortcomings identified in connection with a Flydubai-related incident.

Under the new requirements, airlines must ensure that pilots and other crew members assigned to flights crossing Israeli airspace do not hold nationalities covered by the restrictions. The countries reportedly affected include Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Moroccan and Emirati nationals are not included in the reported list of prohibited nationalities.

The restrictions also extend to some people holding dual citizenship. Foreign carriers are required to check whether pilots and cabin crew members possess additional nationalities, including when they also hold American or European citizenship. According to reports, individuals with US or European passports may be excluded from flights to Israel if they also hold the nationality of a country that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.

Airlines must also submit the names of crew members to Israeli authorities at least 48 hours before departure. The advance-notification requirement gives officials time to review crew details and verify compliance before a flight operates.

The new rules have prompted airlines to review the nationality information they collect from employees. A spokesperson for Swiss International Air Lines told a Swiss newspaper that the company had asked crew members to disclose any additional nationalities they hold following the Israeli instructions.

The development has raised questions about how thoroughly international airlines document employees’ citizenship status, particularly in cases involving dual nationality. Carriers may need to update internal records and screening procedures to ensure that crew assignments meet the new requirements.

The measures come amid heightened attention to aviation security and the procedures airlines must follow when operating in sensitive airspace. Their implementation will require coordination between foreign carriers and Israeli authorities, while airlines assess the potential operational impact on crew scheduling and flight planning.