Israel bars aircrew with 27 nationalities from flights, transport minister under pressure

Israel's transport ministry has ordered foreign airlines to bar crew with single or dual citizenship of 27 countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, from flying to Israel. The transport minister faces opposition calls to resign after a recent attack by an Omani co-pilot on a Dubai Air flight.

Israel’s transport ministry has issued a notice to foreign airline operators banning crew members holding single or dual citizenship of 27 countries, including Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, from operating or travelling on flights to and from Israel.

The Times of Israel, citing Channel 12 television, reported that while regulations require authorities to obtain passenger and crew lists from a flight’s country of origin in advance for security checks, in practice the lists often arrive only after takeoff, meaning the rules have been poorly enforced for years.

Following the recent incident in which an Omani co-pilot attacked the captain of a Dubai Air passenger jet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 4 October ordered the National Security Council to conduct a comprehensive security review of flights operated by foreign airlines to Israel.

Opposition parties in Israel have stepped up pressure on Transport Minister Miri Regev, calling for her to resign or be dismissed.