Air France is enforcing an Israeli Transport Ministry order that bars pilots and cabin crew who hold the nationality — or dual nationality — of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel from flights to Israel and from entering Israeli airspace, according to a Mediapart investigation reported by Middle East Eye.
The restrictions cover 31 nationalities. The list includes Algerian, Tunisian, Iranian, and Pakistani citizens. French dual nationals who also hold one of the listed nationalities are affected as well.
What The Israeli Order Requires
Israeli broadcaster N12 reported that Israel’s Ministry of Transport issued the directive on 1 October 2026. It requires airlines to ensure that pilots and flight attendants entering Israeli airspace do not hold the nationality or dual nationality of a country without formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
Mediapart obtained an internal Air France note that relayed the Israeli instructions to pilots and cabin crew. Staff were told they could no longer operate flights to Israel under those rules. The airline also warned employees to declare a second nationality. Failure to comply may lead to disciplinary sanctions, according to the investigation.
Why Pakistani Crew Are Affected
Pakistan is among the 31 countries named in coverage of the ban. Reporting based on Mediapart’s documents and other regional outlets lists Pakistan alongside Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Oman, Tunisia, and others that do not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Israel.
Countries that have normalized relations with Israel, such as Morocco and the United Arab Emirates, are not covered by the same nationality filter, according to French-language coverage of the note.
Related: FlyDubai Pilot Wanted to Do 9/11 Style Attack in Israel.
Link To The Alleged Flydubai Incident
The order followed an alleged attempt by an Omani flydubai co-pilot to seize control of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight on 30 September 2026 and crash it into a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport. The co-pilot told UAE investigators that he had acted alone. Neither the Israeli nor the UAE account has undergone independent verification.
ProPakistani earlier covered the alleged incident: Omani Co-Pilot Stabs Indian Pilot to Crash FlyDubai Flight Full of Israeli Citizens.
Israeli Airlines Also Checking Crew
Israeli Channel 13 reported that at least one unnamed Israeli airline was conducting background checks on about 2,500 pilots and cabin crew working in the country’s aviation sector.
Air France Response And Legal Questions
Middle East Eye said Air France did not reply to its request for comment by publication. French coverage, including reporting cited by The Times of Israel, said Air France told Le Monde and AFP that it must comply with admission rules set by destination countries for passengers and staff.
Mediapart and other outlets noted that enforcing nationality-based restrictions could expose the airline to legal challenges under French labour and anti-discrimination law. Some French politicians publicly criticised the move after the internal note became public.
Air France has not issued a detailed public statement addressing Mediapart’s findings beyond noting that it must follow destination-country admission rules.
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