Airlines crew restrictions on Israel flights

Major airlines, including United Airlines and Air France, have implemented crew restrictions for flights entering or departing Israeli airspace. These measures follow directives from Israeli authorities and target personnel based on their nationality or dual citizenship, specifically focusing on individuals from countries that do not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

United Airlines identified 29 potentially impacted countries, such as Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon, noting that U.S. citizenship does not exempt employees who also hold a restricted nationality. Air France similarly notified staff that personnel with dual nationality from countries like Algeria, Tunisia, and Pakistan may be barred from these routes to comply with sovereign entry rules.

The implementation of these protocols follows a security incident on September 30, 2026, involving a Flydubai flight where an Omani co-pilot allegedly attempted to seize control of the aircraft. This event, along with an instance where an Ethiopian Airlines flight was ordered to return after an Indonesian pilot was discovered on board, has led to increased scrutiny. Other carriers, such as Smartwings, are reportedly adopting similar nationality-based deployment protocols.