French flagship carrier Air France has announced it will comply with new Israeli restrictions that bar pilots and cabin crew from mostly Muslim-majority countries without diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv.
Air France has confirmed it will adhere to new Israeli regulations, following an incident on September 30 involving a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot of the flight attempted to crash the aircraft and kill its passengers, out of which 150 were Israeli. Despite this attempt, there were no fatalities as the plane landed safely at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The new regulations primarily affect Muslim-majority countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Sudan. However, the list also includes North Korea, Cuba, Nicaragua, Belize, Venezuela, and Colombia, despite the latter's recent pledge to open an embassy in Israel.
Like all airlines, Air France is 'required to comply with the entry regulations established by the authorities of the countries it serves,' according to the airline's statement.
Source:
Scroll.in
