Israel tightens nationality rules for foreign crews flying to Tel Aviv

Israel is applying its nationality requirements for foreign flight crews more strictly, following the foiled attack on a Flydubai service to Tel Aviv. Under the rules, crew members holding citizenship of a country that has no diplomatic relations with Israel may not fly to the country. Pilots and cabin crew with dual nationality are also affected, which is disrupting airline crew planning.

The case centres on Flydubai flight FZ1073, on which a co-pilot of Omani origin attacked the captain on 30 September, allegedly intending to bring the aircraft down at Tel Aviv airport. Shortly after the incident it emerged that the man should not have been allowed to operate flights to Israel under Israeli requirements.

Israel's aviation agreements with other countries require that crews on flights to Tel Aviv come only from states that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. Airlines must assemble their crews against a list of barred nationalities and report the names to Israeli authorities 48 hours before departure. Oversight rests with the transport ministry, which according to the newspaper Haaretz neglected the task for at least two years. In 2026 alone, at least 1,240 crew members from countries without diplomatic relations are said to have entered Israel.

The ministry is now acting firmly. Foreign airlines may no longer deploy flying personnel on flights to Israel who hold citizenship of a country that has no diplomatic relations with Israel.