Israel Bars Dual Citizens from 31 Nations Working as Flight Crew

The decision follows an attempted terror attack on a Flydubai flight on September 30, where the first officer, Hammam Al-Hamami, allegedly tried to neutralize the captain and hijack the plane en route to TLV, intending to crash it into the terminal. Quick intervention by passengers and off-duty pilots reportedly thwarted the attempt.

The new policy, reported by Paddle Your Own Kanoo (PYOK), extends beyond crew from nations without diplomatic ties with Israel to include individuals with dual citizenship. This means even a crew member with a U.S. passport could be barred from flying to Israel if they also hold citizenship from one of the listed countries. United Airlines has already issued an internal memo to its staff regarding these new restrictions, and other airlines operating flights to Israel have also been informed.

The 31 countries subject to the restriction include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Al-Hamami, an Omani citizen, had previously flown to Tel Aviv without raising suspicion. Questions have arisen regarding his background checks and information held by previous employers. Oman Air was reportedly aware of his alleged extremist views and moved him to a non-flying role before he joined Flydubai. He also worked for Royal Air Maroc. Prosecutors allege he planned a 9/11-inspired terror attack, choosing Flydubai because it flies to Israel, and used two prior flights to Tel Aviv for reconnaissance. He is said to have radicalized in Melbourne, Australia, associating with a group funded by the Muslim Brotherhood, though he claimed to have acted alone.