CHICAGO- Israel has banned Captain Sina Amjadian, who claims to work for United Airlines (UA), from its airspace over reported social media posts supporting Iran and Hezbollah. The posts have not been verified.
United says he is not currently flying for the airline. The ban follows the alleged Flydubai (FZ) attempt to crash a Boeing 737 into Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV).
Israel Acts on Social Media Accusations
Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism collates information on antisemitism worldwide.
It found posts on X accusing a pilot of supporting the current Iranian regime, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Hezbollah terrorist organization. The pilot has been widely identified as Captain Sina Amjadian, who has Iranian heritage.
The ministry never saw the alleged posts. Based on hearsay evidence, it submitted a dossier to Israel’s Ministry of Transport and asked for a ban on any flights he operates that enter Israeli airspace. The transport ministry granted the request.
In a statement, the ministry said the information “raises concern and requires a professional security review.” It cited the pilot’s sensitive role and “the direct responsibility for the safety and security of passengers and crew members.”
The ministry added that it works to “monitor, collect, and analyze information from open sources” on antisemitism, incitement, and calls to harm Jews and Israelis worldwide.
Reports about the pilot surfaced during its monitoring of X, and it described him as a pilot of Iranian descent who is “allegedly employed by the American airline United Airlines.”
The transport ministry confirmed that it sent United an official notice stating that Captain Amjadian was “absolutely prohibited from entering the airspace of the State of Israel.”
United Airlines Says the Pilot Is Not Currently Flying
According to his LinkedIn profile, Captain Amjadian worked for Flydubai for about 7 years before becoming a United Airlines pilot in command of Boeing 737 aircraft.
These aircraft operate domestic and short-haul international flights from the United States. He is understood to live in Dubai.
United Airlines told PYOK: “This pilot is not currently flying for United.” Captain Amjadian has been employed by United but has been on a leave of absence since 2024. It is not known whether he plans to return to flying for the airline.
The Boeing 737 aircraft he flies cannot reach Israel from United’s departure points. United serves Tel Aviv with Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
ALSO READ: United Airlines Withholds Pilot Again Over Hamas Attack Comments
United Also Grounds Captain Ibrahim R. Mossallam
The ban came just over a week after United confirmed that Captain Ibrahim R. Mossallam, one of its actual pilots, had been grounded. The action followed comments he made online after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel.
Just hours after the attacks began, he reportedly posted on Facebook: “This is a resistance by a brave people who have endured decades of occupation, oppression, humiliation, apartheid, and straight-up murder. This was not an unprovoked attack but a response to this past year’s attacks by the Zionist regime.”
He was reportedly grounded shortly after the comments came to light but was allowed to return to flying.
After the Flydubai incident, the airline confirmed that it had removed him from flying duties again. Unlike Captain Amjadian, he is an active United pilot who faced action over his own posts.
Israel Tightens Crew Rules After Flydubai Incident
Flydubai First Officer Hamam al-Hammami allegedly tried to take control of a packed Boeing 737 so that he could crash it into the main terminal of Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport. Reports place the incident on September 30.
Indian captain Smit Machchhar was injured while stopping the attempt, and the aircraft diverted to Saudi Arabia.
Israel’s Ministry of Transport told foreign airlines on October 1 that pilots and cabin crew entering Israeli airspace must not hold the nationality, including dual nationality, of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel.
The rule also covers flights that overfly Israel. Reports say it affects citizens of 31 countries, while an internal United memo listed 29. United has asked affected pilots and flight attendants to contact its scheduling department.
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