ISRAEL: MOT Restricts Flight Crew Members from 27 Countries from Operating Flights to Israel

JERUSALEM, Israel

• Israel's Transportation Ministry has tightened rules for foreign airlines flying to Israel following the recent flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted hijacking.
• Rules bar crew members holding citizenship in countries without formal diplomatic relations from operating or traveling on Israel-bound flights.
• Enforcement had previously failed.
• Pilots and aircrew from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Pakistan have flown into Israel in recent years.
• Interior Ministry receives passenger and crew lists only after aircraft takeoff.
• Ministry sent notice to foreign carriers including US airlines on Sunday.
• Citizens of 27 countries are barred from piloting or boarding flights to and from Israel.
• Affected countries are: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Venezuela, and Yemen.
• Crew members holding single or dual citizenship from these countries must contact airline scheduling departments.

Sources:

• Timesofisrael
• Mako