Air France Bars Pilots from 31 Countries from Flights to Israel

French airline Air France is preventing pilots and cabin crew members from 31 countries from working on flights to Israel, following an Israeli directive. The list includes citizens of Algeria, Tunisia, Iran and Pakistan. French citizens who also hold citizenship in any of these countries are subject to the same restrictions.

Middle East Eye reported on October 11, citing an investigation by the French investigative news outlet Mediapart. Following the Israeli directive, Air France informed the affected employees that they could no longer operate flights to Israel. The airline also instructed staff to disclose any second nationality they hold, warning that failure to comply could lead to disciplinary action.

Although the restrictions do not explicitly mention any religion, Muslim pilots and cabin crew members from the affected countries are also barred from operating flights to Israel. The decision could expose Air France to legal challenges in France. The airline has not publicly commented on Mediapart’s findings.

Israeli broadcaster N12 reported that the country’s Transport Ministry issued the directive on October 1. Under the directive, pilots and flight attendants who hold citizenship in countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel are prohibited from entering Israeli airspace. The restriction also applies to people who hold dual citizenship in any of those countries.

The directive followed an incident on September 30 involving a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. An Omani co-pilot was accused of attempting to take control of the aircraft and crash it into a terminal at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. According to investigators in the United Arab Emirates, the co-pilot claimed that he had acted alone. However, the information provided by Israel and the UAE has not been independently verified.

Little information about the pilot has been made public. Before joining Flydubai in January 2026, he had worked for several airlines, including Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc. Israeli broadcaster Channel 13 reported that at least one Israeli airline is checking the identities and backgrounds of around 2,500 pilots and cabin crew members working in the country’s aviation sector. Middle East Eye said it had contacted Air France for comment but had received no response by the time of publication.

Source: Middle East Eye.