An Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Tel Aviv reportedly returned to Addis Ababa after Israeli authorities denied it permission to land because one of its pilots was Indonesian.
The incident, reported on October 13, 2026, occurred after the aircraft had been in the air for about an hour. According to media reports citing Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, the plane was still within Ethiopian airspace when the airline was instructed to return to Addis Ababa.
Following the aircraft’s return, the Indonesian pilot was reportedly replaced by another pilot before the flight departed again for Israel. The aircraft subsequently landed in Tel Aviv, allowing the journey to be completed.
Ethiopian Airlines reportedly described the incident as a mistake, explaining that it had not been aware that the pilot was prohibited from operating a flight to Israel under the restrictions then in force.
The episode comes amid reported changes to Israeli security requirements affecting crew members of foreign airlines travelling to the country. The restrictions reportedly apply to citizens, including dual nationals, of certain countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
Indonesia is among the countries without formal diplomatic relations with Israel. The reported restrictions have therefore created additional requirements for airlines to consider when assigning pilots and other crew members to flights bound for Israeli airports.
The measures reportedly followed a security incident involving a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026. Reports indicated that an Omani co-pilot allegedly attempted to seize control of the aircraft and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport. The attempt was reportedly thwarted, and the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Following the incident, Israeli authorities reportedly instructed foreign airlines to ensure that crew members holding citizenship from specified countries were not assigned to flights entering Israeli airspace.
The new requirements have raised operational concerns for international airlines, which must ensure that crew assignments comply with destination-country regulations before departure. Failure to verify the relevant requirements can lead to delays, flight diversions or last-minute crew changes.
Reports have also indicated that several African countries are affected by the restrictions, including Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, Sudan and Tunisia. However, the list of affected countries has varied across media reports.
The Ethiopian Airlines incident highlights the importance of communication between airlines and aviation authorities, particularly when security restrictions involve crew members’ nationalities.
Although the flight was reportedly able to continue its journey after the pilot was replaced, the episode demonstrates how changes in entry and aviation requirements can disrupt international operations.
The reported incident also raises questions about the procedures airlines use to verify crew eligibility before departure and how new restrictions are communicated to carriers operating international routes.
Source: Thepressradio.com
