Jakarta, ThedailyID — An Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane was forced to return to Addis Ababa after Israel reportedly denied it permission to land. The decision followed the discovery that one of its pilots was an Indonesian citizen, according to The Times of Israel.
The incident occurred on Sunday night, October 11, 2026, around two weeks after a suspected hijacking attempt involving a Flydubai flight. Israeli authorities reportedly discovered the Indonesian crew member after receiving the aircraft’s crew list following takeoff.
According to Israeli media reports cited by Ynet, the aircraft turned back while airborne and dumped fuel over the sea during the return journey. The airline then replaced the Indonesian pilot with another pilot authorized to fly to Israel.
Israel has tightened screening rules for foreign airlines following the Flydubai incident. Under the reported regulations, crew members holding citizenship from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel cannot operate or travel on flights bound for the country. Indonesia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
The new restrictions followed an incident on September 30 involving a Flydubai flight heading to Tel Aviv. An Omani pilot reportedly stabbed his co-pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport. Passengers intervened, preventing the alleged attack from succeeding.
The incident prompted an investigation into Israel’s aviation security procedures. Reports found that authorities had not consistently conducted adequate security checks on foreign airlines and their crew members.
Israeli media also reported that pilots and crew members from countries including Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Pakistan had flown into Israel in recent years. These reports raised concerns about how authorities screened foreign flight crews.
Last week, Israel’s Transportation Ministry issued new instructions to aircraft operators. The rules prohibit citizens of countries considered hostile or lacking diplomatic relations with Israel from serving as pilots or crew members on flights to the country.
Furthermore, the ministry said it would conduct regular assessments to ensure airlines follow the required security programs and procedures. The measures aim to address potential risks associated with flights entering Israeli airspace.
