Israel introduces new flight restrictions, 10 African countries on the list after security scare

• Israel's Ministry of Transport issued a directive on 7 October 2026 barring foreign airline crew from countries with no diplomatic ties to Israel
• The ban followed a security incident aboard a Tel Aviv-bound FlyDubai flight involving an Omani co-pilot on 30 September 2026
• At least 10 African nations are affected, with major carriers like Air France and United Airlines already adjusting their crew schedules

Israel's Ministry of Transport has barred foreign airline pilots and cabin crew who hold citizenship from countries without formal diplomatic relations with Israel, effective 7 October 2026. The directive covers both primary passport holders and dual nationals, meaning staff who carry two passports, one of which is from a restricted country, are also affected.

The move came after a serious security incident on 30 September 2026. An Omani co-pilot aboard a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Passengers and off-duty crew stepped in to restrain him, and the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the National Security Council to carry out a full review of how foreign civil aviation operations entering Israeli airspace are managed.

Internal scheduling documents from major carriers reveal that at least 10 African nations are listed among the restricted countries. From North and West Africa, the list includes Algeria, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Tunisia. From East Africa and the Horn of Africa, the affected countries are Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan. Globally, airlines report that between 29 and 31 countries fall under the directive in total.

Airlines that fail to comply risk having their authorisation to operate in Israeli airspace suspended or revoked entirely.

Airlines begin rescheduling crews

According to media reports, major carriers have moved quickly to adjust their rosters. Air France notified crew members that any personnel holding citizenship or dual nationality from the 31 restricted nations cannot work flights heading to Israel. United Airlines circulated an internal memo listing 29 countries to ensure non-compliant crew are removed from Tel Aviv routes before scheduling is finalised.

The restrictions are creating real operational strain for airlines managing large workforces with diverse nationalities. Staff holding dual French and Algerian passports, or American and Sudanese passports, for example, are among those caught in the crosshairs of the new rules.

More on travel restrictions and visa rules

• Briefly News recently reported on the SA visa rule change that sees Home Affairs remove the 60-day requirement for applicants, and who could get a second chance.
• A TikToker revealed where the SA passport really ranks globally, and how many destinations South Africans can reach without a visa.
• The US confirmed the 42 countries that can be entered without a visa, and whether any African nation made the cut might surprise you.

Source: Briefly News

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