Air France has reportedly told pilots and cabin crew that some nationalities cannot be assigned to flights entering Israeli airspace, including employees who also hold French citizenship. The restriction is said to stem from an Israeli transport directive concerning crew members from countries that do not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
What the reported instruction says
An internal notice circulated to Air France staff reportedly relays the Israeli requirement and warns that crew members with citizenship, including dual citizenship, from affected countries should not operate Israel-bound flights. The countries named in coverage of the notice include Algeria, Tunisia, Iran and Pakistan.
The restriction concerns flight crew and cabin staff, rather than passengers. It appears to apply based on nationality and diplomatic relations, not an individual’s religion. Air France had not publicly confirmed or denied the account when the details emerged.
Security measure after a flight incident
The directive reportedly followed an incident aboard a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. The Omani co-pilot was accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of the aircraft. The plane diverted to Saudi Arabia, and the incident remained under investigation.
Authorities’ accounts about the alleged motive and events have not been independently established. The reported crew restriction has raised questions about how nationality-based security rules are applied to airline employees, including those who hold more than one citizenship.
Because Air France has not publicly confirmed the reported notice, the exact scope and implementation of the policy remain unclear.
