Israeli restrictions on foreign airline pilots and cabin crew could affect people holding citizenship including dual citizenship, from at least 10 African countries, according to reports citing an internal United Airlines memo.
The African countries identified are Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, Sudan and Tunisia. The restrictions apply to crew members from countries that do not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel and could affect their assignment to flights travelling to or from the country.
Israel’s Ministry of Transport issued the measures on the 7th of October, following an incident on 30 September aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv. An Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia after passengers intervened.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently ordered a review of security arrangements for foreign civil aviation. Airlines that fail to comply with the crew restrictions risk having their authorisation to enter Israeli airspace suspended or revoked, according to the report.
The rules have implications beyond Israeli airlines. Reports say United Airlines circulated an internal memo listing nationalities whose citizens could not operate or travel on its Tel Aviv flights. Air France has also reportedly notified staff that the restrictions include crew members who hold a second nationality, even if they also have French citizenship.
The measures may complicate crew scheduling for international carriers, particularly when pilots and cabin crew hold multiple passports. They have also prompted questions about the treatment of employees based on nationality and dual citizenship.
Reports do not give identical totals for the nationalities affected: the United Airlines memo cited 29 countries, while separate coverage of the Air France policy cited 31. The 10 African countries listed in the United memo should therefore not be treated as a definitive or exhaustive list of all African nationalities that could be affected.
For African airlines and aviation authorities, the rules underline the importance of clarifying how the restrictions are applied, including to dual nationals, and what procedures carriers must follow to maintain access to Israeli airspace.
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