Jakarta, MINA – Indonesia has protested Israel’s decision to prevent an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft from landing in Tel Aviv because one of its pilots was an Indonesian national, describing nationality-based restrictions as inconsistent with the principles of non-discrimination in international aviation.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said Jakarta rejected restrictions imposed on individuals solely because of their nationality or political considerations, according to local media reports.
She acknowledged that aviation authorities have the right to establish safety requirements for flight crews. However, she stressed that such measures must be applied objectively, proportionately, and according to an assessment of actual risks.
Mewengkang said Israel’s reported policy of excluding pilots from certain countries based on citizenship ran counter to the principle of non-discrimination and the spirit of facilitating international air travel.
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The incident was first reported by Israel’s Channel 12 on Monday. According to the broadcaster, an Ethiopian Airlines flight traveling from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv was ordered to turn back approximately one hour after departure, while the aircraft was still in Ethiopian airspace.
Israeli intelligence and airport authorities reportedly flagged the Indonesian pilot’s nationality, leading security officials and the Transportation Ministry to prevent the aircraft from continuing to its destination.
The plane subsequently returned to Addis Ababa, where the pilot was replaced. The aircraft then resumed its journey and landed in Tel Aviv.
Ethiopian Airlines described the episode as a mistake, saying it had not known that the pilot was prohibited from operating flights to Israel, according to the report.
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Channel 12 further reported that Israeli authorities had instructed foreign airlines not to assign crew members from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel to flights bound for the country. The countries reportedly affected include Indonesia, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Niger, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Venezuela.
The reported restriction has raised questions about how nationality-based limitations are applied alongside aviation safety requirements and international air transport practices.
The episode also comes amid heightened security concerns following an attempted hijacking involving a FlyDubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.
United Arab Emirates prosecutors said an Omani co-pilot had attempted to take control of the aircraft and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport. Passengers and other crew members thwarted the attempt, and the plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
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Indonesia’s objection centers on the reported exclusion of its citizen based on nationality. Jakarta maintains that aviation security measures should be grounded in objective safety assessments rather than blanket restrictions linked to citizenship.
The incident places renewed attention on the treatment of flight crews operating international routes and the balance between national security measures and non-discriminatory aviation practices.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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