ISRAEL has reportedly introduced new aviation security restrictions preventing pilots and cabin crew holding the nationality of 31 countries from being assigned to flights operating into Israeli airspace, affecting 10 African countries, including ALGERIA, TUNISIA, LIBYA, NIGER, MALI, MAURITANIA, SOMALIA, SUDAN, DJIBOUTI and COMOROS. Other affected nationalities reportedly include those of IRAN, SAUDI ARABIA, PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, BANGLADESH, MALAYSIA, INDONESIA, OMAN, QATAR, KUWAIT, IRAQ, LEBANON and YEMEN. According to reports by French investigative publication Mediapart and Israeli media, the restrictions apply to flight crew assignments rather than passenger entry and may affect dual nationals, requiring airlines to review crew eligibility before operating services to ISRAEL. The measures reportedly followed a security incident involving a Flydubai flight on 30 September 2026, when an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, prompting a diversion to SAUDI ARABIA, where it landed safely. Israeli authorities subsequently reviewed aviation security procedures and tightened checks…
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