United Airlines Pilot Barred From Flying to Israel Over Social Media Posts

By Вести-Ynet

Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba

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Russian · 6 newsrooms covering

United Airlines pilot Sina Amjadian has been banned from flying to Israel due to social media posts supporting the Iranian regime, the IRGC, and Hezbollah. The Ministry for Diaspora Affairs alerted security and transport ministries, leading to the decision to deny entry to flights with Amjadian as crew. This action follows increased vigilance in aviation security after a prior incident on a Flydubai flight. The Ministry of Transport confirmed its role in acting on such safety concerns.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

United Airlines pilot Sina Amjadian is barred from flying to Israel over social media support for Iran, IRGC, and Hezbollah.
The Ministry for Diaspora Affairs alerted security and transport ministries about Amjadian's online activity.
Flights with Amjadian as crew will be denied entry to Israel, confirmed the Ministry of Transport.
The decision follows increased scrutiny of foreign flight crews after a Flydubai incident.
Amjadian's social media posts included content supporting the Iranian regime and its forces.

United Airlines Pilot Barred From Flying to Israel Over Social Media Posts — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

A pilot for United Airlines, Sina Amjadian, an Iranian-born individual, has been barred from flying to Israel due to his social media activity. The Ministry for Diaspora Affairs alerted security agencies and the Ministry of Transport after discovering posts in which Amjadian expressed support for the Iranian regime, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Hezbollah. High-ranking sources within the Ministry of Transport confirmed to Ynet that flights would be denied entry to Israel if Amjadian was part of the crew.

In an October 19 letter obtained by Ynet, Avi Cohen-Scali, Director General of the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism, informed Shin Bet head David Zini and Ministry of Transport Director General Moshe Ben-Zaken about the publications. Copies were also sent to Sharon Kedmi, Director General of the Israel Airports Authority, and other senior officials. The letter referenced a previous incident on a Flydubai flight, where a co-pilot attacked the captain, as a reason for increased vigilance regarding potential threats to aviation.

Two posts from the social media platform X were attached to the letter. One post alleged that Amjadian, who previously worked for Flydubai, shared content supporting the Iranian regime, including a video of him kissing and saluting a symbol of the regime. Another post claimed he supported the IRGC and Hezbollah and urged United Airlines to investigate his conduct. These claims were not independently verified.

The Ministry for Diaspora Affairs stated that the information raised concerns requiring professional security vetting and emphasized the pilot's responsibility for passenger and crew safety. The Ministry of Transport clarified that while it lacks intelligence-gathering capabilities, it collaborates with relevant authorities when presented with safety concerns. In this instance, following the diaspora ministry's warning, they decided to prevent flights with Amjadian as pilot from entering Israel.

It remains unknown if Amjadian has flown to Israel previously or was scheduled for an upcoming flight, or if he operates aircraft models used on the route to Ben Gurion Airport. However, the restriction highlights increased scrutiny of foreign flight crews following the Flydubai incident. The Ministry of Transport distinguished between barring a pilot from flying to Israel and the authority of border control to permit or deny physical entry into the country. Procedures for vetting foreign crews are also under review.