Jerusalem, October 15: Israel has introduced new aviation security restrictions barring pilots and cabin crew from certain countries, including Pakistan, from operating flights entering Israeli airspace, according to media reports.
The new directives were issued following an alleged hijacking attempt on September 30 involving a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar was injured while reportedly preventing the suspected plot.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, the Transportation Ministry’s Aviation Security Operations Centre issued updated instructions after the incident. Israeli broadcaster N12 reported that foreign airlines were informed about the restrictions on October 1.
Under the new rules, pilots and cabin crew operating flights into Israeli airspace must not hold the nationality, including dual nationality, of countries that do not maintain official diplomatic relations with Israel.
The restrictions reportedly cover nationals of more than two dozen countries, including Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Tunisia, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
The policy has prompted international airlines to review their crew assignments. Reports by French investigative website Mediapart and aviation blog Live and Let’s Fly said Air France and United Airlines had informed affected employees about the restrictions and made arrangements to comply with the new requirements.
Mediapart reported that Air France circulated an internal memo outlining the rules and warning of possible consequences for non-compliance. United Airlines reportedly instructed affected pilots and flight attendants to contact its scheduling department for necessary adjustments.
The restrictions followed the September 30 incident, when a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged attack by the Omani co-pilot. According to reports, the co-pilot attempted to seize control of the aircraft and direct it towards Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport.
Captain Machchhar reportedly managed to open the cockpit door despite being injured, allowing passengers and other crew members to intervene and subdue the co-pilot before the aircraft was diverted.
Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a review of security procedures governing foreign civil aviation, Haaretz reported.
Machchhar has been recovering in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates. His actions during the incident drew praise from several world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.
The new restrictions mark a further tightening of Israel’s aviation security procedures following the reported attempt to seize control of the aircraft. Airlines operating services into Israeli airspace are adjusting crew arrangements to comply with the updated requirements.
