Israel Expands Flight Crew Restrictions to Include Overflights
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Israel has expanded its ban on employing flight crew members from countries without diplomatic ties to include flights merely transiting Israeli airspace. This measure follows an attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight by its Omani co-pilot, Hammam Al-Hamami, on September 30. Airlines must now verify that no crew member holds citizenship from a list of 32 countries, even with dual citizenship. The new regulations may complicate flight planning and force airlines to reassess crew composition and routes in the Middle East.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel now bans flight crews with citizenship from non-diplomatic nations on all flights overflying its territory.
- The expanded ban follows an attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight by its Omani co-pilot on September 30.
- Airlines must submit passport details for all crew members on flights transiting Israeli airspace.
- The list of restricted countries includes nations like Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and North Korea.
- Dual citizens from restricted countries are also subject to the new regulations.
- The restrictions could force airlines to alter flight paths and crew assignments in the Middle East.
Israel is tightening its restrictions on foreign flight crews, extending a ban on employing pilots and flight attendants with citizenship from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Airlines wishing to fly to or over Israel must now ensure none of their operational crew members hold citizenship from any of the listed countries, even if they possess dual citizenship from a nation with diplomatic ties to Israel.
The decision follows an attempted terror attack on a Flydubai flight bound for Israel on September 30. The co-pilot, Hammam Al-Hamami, an Omani citizen, reportedly attempted to hijack the Boeing 737 to crash it into the main terminal at TLV, causing mass casualties. Oman does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. The incident exposed failures in enforcing existing policies, prompting Israel to not only enforce but also expand these restrictions.
The updated guidelines target three groups: crew members whose sole citizenship is from a listed country; those with dual citizenship, even if residing and working in a country with diplomatic relations with Israel; and crew members on flights passing through Israeli airspace who hold citizenship from one of the aforementioned nations. The list of countries includes Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nicaragua, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Venezuela, and Yemen.
These new rules could impact flight planning in the region. Israel's Flight Information Region (FIR) covers approximately 30,325 square kilometers. To enforce the regulations, airlines will be required to submit passport details of all crew members on flights overflying the country, even those not landing. This may add complexity to flight operations, which already contend with security limitations and route changes due to the regional situation. For example, Qatar Airways already bypasses Israeli airspace on some North American flights due to the lack of diplomatic relations, a detour that lengthens flight times. The new restrictions might compel international airlines to re-evaluate their crew compositions and Middle Eastern flight paths.
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