Indonesian pilot on board: an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Tel Aviv forced to turn back

An Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Israel was forced to turn back on the night of Sunday to Monday after its Indonesian pilot was identified. The aircraft then resumed its journey after a change of pilot.

The security forces and airport staff were informed of the pilot’s identity while the plane was still in Ethiopian airspace. The aircraft was then asked to turn back. The pilot was replaced, and the flight was then able to depart again for Israel and land at Ben Gurion Airport.

Indonesia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. The airline reportedly stated that it was not aware that its pilot was not authorized to travel to Israel.

The case has reignited questions about the control of foreign crews. Last week, N12 reported that more than 1,200 crew members from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel may have entered the country.

The information was reportedly mentioned during a meeting of the intelligence subcommittee of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. According to sources present, the revelation is said to have surprised the representative from the Israeli Ministry of Transport.

The new policy follows recent news in which an internal memo addressed to pilots and cabin crew of Air France relayed a new directive from the Israeli Ministry of Transport, imposing nationality restrictions on crews of planes flying to Israel.

The measure stipulates that no crew member may possess the nationality or dual nationality of a country that does not maintain official diplomatic relations with Israel. Among the nationalities concerned are, in particular, Algerian, Tunisian, Iranian, and Pakistani nationals.