JERUSALEM, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- An Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv was forced to return to its departure airport about an hour after takeoff on Monday due to Israeli security restrictions related to crew members' citizenship, Israeli media reported.
According to the reports, the plane turned back after Israel's aviation security system flagged that one of the crew members has Indonesian citizenship, as Indonesia has no diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israel's security requirements for foreign airlines had been significantly tightened following an attempted attack aboard a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv on Sept. 30, carried out by a co-pilot from Oman, which also has no diplomatic relations with Israel.
Media reports said that under Israel's new measures, airlines are reportedly required to ensure crew members have undergone updated security background checks and that those holding citizenship in countries without diplomatic ties to Israel, including dual citizens, are not assigned to flights to Israel. ■
