Israel will not allow flights operated by a United Airlines pilot to arrive in the country following a security warning based on social media allegations that he expressed support for Iran's regime, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah, senior Transportation Ministry officials confirmed to ynet. The restriction applies to flights on which the pilot serves as a crew member, although the allegations against him have not been independently verified.
The pilot, identified as Sina Amjadian, is of Iranian descent and works for the American airline. The claims against him were circulated by other users on X, rather than through original statements or posts by Amjadian presented to Israeli authorities. Despite the lack of independently verified evidence supporting the allegations, the information prompted a security review and a decision to prevent flights crewed by him from arriving in Israel.
In an October 19 letter obtained by ynet, Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry Director General Avi Cohen Scali alerted Shin Bet chief David Zini and Transportation Ministry Director General Moshe Ben Zaken to the allegations. Copies were also sent to Israel Airports Authority Director General Sharon Kadmi and other senior officials.
The letter included two posts from X. One claimed that Amjadian, who was allegedly previously employed by flydubai, had shared content supporting the Iranian regime, including a video in which he purportedly kissed and saluted the regime's emblem. The second alleged that he had expressed support for the Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah and urged United Airlines to investigate his conduct. Neither allegation was independently verified, and the material submitted to Israeli officials did not include the pilot's original posts.
According to the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, the warning followed an attempted attack aboard a flydubai flight bound for Israel in late September. During that incident, the co-pilot attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The incident prompted Israel's National Command and Control Center for Combating Antisemitism to expand its monitoring to include individuals who might pose a threat to aviation security.
The ministry said the information concerning Amjadian warranted professional security scrutiny given the sensitive responsibilities of an international airline pilot and the potential implications for passenger and crew safety. It requested an update on the findings of the security review and any measures taken in response.
Senior Transportation Ministry officials told ynet that the ministry is not an intelligence agency and does not independently monitor social media or collect security intelligence. When it receives information raising aviation safety concerns, however, it coordinates with the relevant security agencies. In this case, officials said, the warning from the Diaspora Affairs Ministry led to a decision prohibiting flights crewed by Amjadian from arriving in Israel.
It remains unclear whether Amjadian has previously flown to Israel, whether he was ever scheduled to operate a flight to Ben Gurion Airport or whether he is qualified to fly the aircraft types United Airlines uses on its Israel routes. There is also no indication that any flight has been canceled or prevented from arriving in Israel because of the restriction.
Transportation Ministry officials stressed that the authority to prevent a pilot from operating a flight to Israel is separate from the authority to approve or deny an individual's physical entry into the country, which rests with border control authorities. Israeli officials are also reviewing procedures for approving foreign flight crews as part of the security measures introduced following the flydubai incident.
United Airlines had not responded to ynet's request for comment at the time of publication.