An Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane turned back mid-flight after an Indonesian pilot was discovered on board, highlighting tightened security checks for flights to Israel.
Ethiopian Airlines flight turned back mid-flight
A cargo plane operated by Ethiopian Airlines traveling from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv was forced to turn back mid-flight after Israeli authorities discovered the presence of an Indonesian pilot on board. Israeli media reported that this nationality did not allow the crew member to participate in a flight to Israel, which does not maintain diplomatic relations with Indonesia.Crew list transmitted after takeoff
Israeli channel Channel 13 reported that the list of crew members was only transmitted to Israeli authorities after takeoff, meaning the pilot's identity was verified while the aircraft was already en route to Tel Aviv. The cargo plane was still in Ethiopian airspace when authorities ordered it to return to Addis Ababa.Fuel jettisoned for safe return
Israeli media reported that fuel was jettisoned into the sea to allow the plane to turn back under the required conditions. Upon its return, the concerned pilot was replaced. Once the crew was modified, the aircraft was able to depart again and continue its journey to Israel.Ethiopian Airlines admits error
Ethiopian Airlines acknowledged an error, stating it was not aware of the restriction applicable to this member of its flight crew, according to Israeli press. This incident occurs in the context of enhanced checks on crews of flights to Israel.Violent incident on Flydubai flight
On September 30, the flight FZ1073 operated by Flydubai, connecting Dubai to Tel Aviv, was the scene of a violent attack in the cockpit. According to Emirati authorities, the co-pilot, of Omani nationality, allegedly attacked the captain with a security axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft.Passengers and crew intervened
Passengers and crew members intervened to subdue the attacker. The plane eventually landed in Saudi Arabia. The investigation into this incident raised questions regarding the checks carried out before assigning pilots to flights to Israel.Israeli concerns about crew checks
Israeli authorities have raised concerns about the procedures for checking crew members from countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. Following this incident, Israeli authorities announced a tightening of security measures applicable to foreign airlines.Late transmission of crew list
The transmission of crew lists in the case of the Ethiopian Airlines flight allowed the authorities to identify the pilot before entering Israeli airspace, which enabled the aircraft to avoid continuing its journey with a crew that did not meet Israel's requirements. However, the late transmission of the crew list, as reported by local media, raises the question of when these checks are carried out.Need for coordination and clarity
If the information had been communicated and examined before departure, the turn back could potentially have been avoided. The precise circumstances of this incident and the application of the new restrictions remain to be clarified. The episode illustrates, however, the importance of coordination between airlines and the authorities responsible for security, especially when the rules of access to the territory impose specific checks on international crews.
