Middle East Eye, Paris:
Air France planes parked on the tarmac at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Roissy on April 30, 2020. Photo : AFP
Air France has agreed to enforce an Israeli directive barring pilots and cabin crew of certain nationalities from operating flights to Israel, including nationals of several Muslim-majority countries, according to an investigation by French outlet Mediapart.
The restrictions apply to citizens of 31 countries, including Algeria, Tunisia, Iran and Pakistan. French citizens who also hold the nationality of any country on the list are reportedly subject to the restrictions.
Although the Israeli directive is based on nationality rather than religion, it effectively prevents crew members from the listed Muslim-majority countries from operating flights to Israel.
Mediapart reported that Air France had informed affected employees that they could no longer work on Israel-bound flights under the Israeli requirements. The airline also reportedly instructed employees to disclose any second nationality, warning that failure to do so could result in disciplinary action.
The decision could expose Air France to legal challenges in France over potential discrimination. The airline has yet to publicly comment on Mediapart’s findings.
According to Israeli broadcaster N12, Israel’s Ministry of Transport issued the directive on 1 October, requiring airlines to ensure that pilots and cabin crew entering Israeli airspace do not hold citizenship, including dual citizenship, of countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
The measure came after an alleged attempt by an Omani co-pilot aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September to seize control of the aircraft and crash it into a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport.
According to accounts from Israeli and UAE authorities, the co-pilot later told UAE investigators that he had acted alone. However, the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident have not been independently verified, and little information about the co-pilot has been made public.