10 African countries hit by Israel’s foreign airline crew restrictions

Africa – At least 10 African countries have been caught up in Israel’s new restrictions on foreign airline pilots and cabin crew, following a security incident aboard a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv.

According to Business Insider Africa, the affected countries are Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, Sudan and Tunisia.

The restrictions, issued by Israel’s Ministry of Transport on 7 October, prohibit crew members holding citizenship, including dual nationality, from countries without formal diplomatic relations with Israel from operating or travelling on flights to and from the country.

The measures followed an incident on 30 September involving a FlyDubai flight in which an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft.

The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia after passengers intervened.

Security aspects 

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a review of aviation security.

His office said he “has instructed the head of the National Security Council, Shmuel Ben Ezra, to appoint an examiner to conduct a thorough review of all security aspects of foreign civil aviation to Israel.”

A Reuters report published by The Times of Israel said Israel planned to increase security checks on pilots operating flights into the country, regardless of whether the airlines were Israeli or foreign.

“We are going to know the pilots’ identities, know who they are, and do some type of security check,” Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, told Reuters.

Meanwhile, Live and Let’s Fly reported that United Airlines had circulated an internal memo identifying 29 countries whose citizens could not operate or travel aboard its flights to and from Tel Aviv.

Managing crew assignments

The list includes the 10 African countries identified in the Business Insider Africa report, although the publication cautioned that it might not be exhaustive.

The memo states that the restrictions apply to crew members holding citizenship or dual nationality from the affected countries, prompting airlines to adjust staffing arrangements.

The developments have raised questions about aviation security procedures and the implications of nationality-based restrictions for airline employees. Airlines serving Israel face the challenge of complying with the requirements while managing crew assignments, particularly where staff hold multiple citizenships.

According to Business Insider Africa, airlines that fail to comply risk immediate suspension or revocation of their authorisation to enter Israeli airspace.