The move follows an alleged hijacking attempt aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, when an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian pilot.

The co-pilot was accused of attempting to seize control of the aircraft and crash it into Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.

Air France, United Airlines update crew policies

According to reports by French investigative publication Mediapart and aviation intelligence firm ch-aviation, both airlines have notified their flight and cabin crew about the Israeli regulations.

Air France confirmed that it was complying with the requirements imposed by Israeli authorities.

"The staff concerned have been informed of the new regulations implemented by the Israeli authorities for flights to Tel Aviv," the airline said.

According to Mediapart, Air France has also instructed employees to disclose any second nationality, warning that failure to do so could result in disciplinary action.

United Airlines, meanwhile, has incorporated the restrictions into its crew-planning procedures.

Israel's restrictions cover 31 countries

According to Israeli broadcaster N12, the country's Ministry of Transport and Road Safety informed foreign airlines on October 1 that pilots and cabin crew operating flights into Israeli airspace must not hold the nationality, including dual nationality, of countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.

The directive covers 31 countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Venezuela and Yemen.

The restrictions could affect dozens of airlines operating flights to, from or over Israel.

Although the rules were already in place, they were reportedly not strictly enforced. Israeli authorities largely relied on foreign airlines to ensure that crew members from the listed countries were excluded from flights to Israel.

According to reports, Israel's Shin Bet security service did not routinely verify crew nationalities, while the Transportation Ministry acknowledged that it lacked the intelligence infrastructure to systematically monitor airline crew rosters.

Consequently, pilots from countries including Oman, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Lebanon had continued operating flights into Tel Aviv for years despite the existing guidelines.

Ethiopian Airlines flight forced to turn back

The tightened enforcement has already disrupted flight operations. An Ethiopian Airlines flight was reportedly ordered to return to Addis Ababa after Israeli authorities identified an Indonesian pilot on board.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the aircraft was about an hour into its journey and still within Ethiopian airspace when the order was issued.

The plane returned to the Ethiopian capital, where the pilot was replaced, before departing again and eventually landing in Tel Aviv.

The incident highlights the operational challenges airlines may face as Israel steps up enforcement of restrictions based on crew nationality.

Security concerns raise questions for global aviation

The measures have brought renewed attention to the security procedures governing international flights and the responsibilities of airlines operating routes to Israel.

With Air France and United adjusting their crew arrangements, the restrictions could have wider implications for airline staffing, nationality disclosure requirements and flight planning.

The extent to which other international carriers will adopt similar measures remains unclear.