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

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.