Paris air traffic controller suspended after saying ‘Free Palestine’ to El Al crew

(ATHIS-MONS) A French air traffic controller based near Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport was suspended on August 12, 2025 after saying “Free Palestine” to the crew of an Israeli El Al flight during a routine radio exchange a day earlier. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the controller has been “deprived of any possibility to practice until further notice,” and confirmed an administrative investigation is underway. Recordings of the exchange, made as the El Al flight departed Paris-CDG on August 11, 2025, were reviewed by authorities, and the airline reported the incident to French officials.

The controller works at the North Air Navigation Service Center (CRNA) in Athis-Mons, which supports traffic at Paris-area airports, including Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. According to the ministry, disciplinary proceedings began immediately after officials verified the radio message. The minister said the sanction “must be commensurate with the seriousness of the facts,” signaling that further penalties may follow once the investigation concludes.

The incident drew quick reaction from industry and community groups. The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) called the message “unacceptable,” arguing it broke political neutrality rules and compromised air traffic security protocols. El Al described the remark as “unprofessional and inappropriate,” and said it is coordinating with Israeli and French authorities on next steps. Online, debate rose within hours. Some applauded the suspension as necessary to protect safety and neutrality. Others criticized France’s broader policy approach to Israel and Palestine, saying the response showed bias.

Disciplinary measures and investigation

The Ministry of Transport has opened an administrative probe focused on the controller’s conduct and compliance with communications procedures. Under standard air traffic rules, radio exchanges must stay professional, brief, and free of political statements.

Officials said the controller remains suspended during the investigation, with potential outcomes that include:

• A formal reprimand
• A longer suspension
• Job loss

Key steps now include:

1. Review of recorded communications to confirm the exact wording and timing.
2. Interviews with the controller, colleagues, and supervisors at the Athis-Mons center.
3. Coordination with El Al and Israeli authorities, who flagged the event shortly after the flight departed.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry is working with its embassy in Paris and the French Foreign Ministry, according to officials familiar with the matter. The case follows a related July episode, when a security agent working for an Air France service provider reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” at young Israeli travelers; that agent was suspended and faced calls for a deeper review of staff training.

The ministry said the controller cannot return to duty until the process ends.

Wider policy context and travel impact

The suspension lands amid rising political strain. French President Emmanuel Macron has said France will officially recognize the State of Palestine in September 2025, and he has urged an arms embargo on Israel over its actions in Gaza and Lebanon.

In Paris, the climate around Israeli aviation has tightened:

• Since early 2025, French authorities have quietly stopped renewing work visas for Israeli security personnel employed by El Al, prompting some staff to leave France or seek temporary diplomatic visas.
• El Al’s Paris office was vandalized last week with antisemitic graffiti, pushing the airline to evacuate staff and shift some passenger services to partner carriers.

For airlines, the immediate issue is staffing stability and trust in core safety functions. Air traffic radio must be calm and precise. When political messages cross into that space, pilots can lose confidence in the controller’s focus, even if only briefly.

Aviation security specialists note:

• The risk is not only the words, but the signal they send.
• If a controller inserts politics into a cockpit exchange, crews may question whether clearances and advisories are being delivered with full attention.
• That’s why discipline in radio use is strict.

Practical effects for travelers and airlines

For travelers:

• Israeli carriers at Paris-area airports may feel pressure if work visas for security staff keep facing hurdles.
• Passengers should watch for schedule changes and allow extra time for check-in and security.

For airlines, common adjustments include:

• Shifting personnel from other cities
• Contracting local providers
• Moving certain functions off-airport

Those options carry costs and can reduce flexibility during busy periods. If France maintains tighter control on work visas for airline security, carriers may have to reassign flights to airports where staffing is simpler.

Immigration and visas

France controls entry and work rights through its national system. Workers from outside the European Union need valid visas and often work authorization tied to an employer and role. Companies usually plan renewals months in advance; if renewals stall, the worker must depart or switch status.

For official guidance on visas and work authorization, see: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/

Neutrality, unions, and workplace rules

Officials in Paris face pressure to keep airport staff neutral during interactions with the public or flight crews. CRIF and other groups argue this is about speech on the job in a safety-critical system, not free speech in general life.

Unions typically remind members:

• Political messaging over operational channels (radio, chat, flight strips) is banned.
• Controllers often hold strong personal views, but most separate them from work—especially in radio exchanges relied on by pilots and other controllers.

Questions the investigation aims to answer

The probe will seek to determine:

• Did the message disrupt the exchange that should have been taking place at that moment?
• Did it distract the crew or other aircraft?
• Did the controller’s workplace have any prior warnings or complaints?

Answers will guide the final sanction. The ministry emphasized neutrality in the tower as non-negotiable.

Official responses and next steps

El Al has encouraged staff to report any future incidents at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or other French facilities immediately. Israel’s embassy in Paris is tracking developments closely.

Minister Philippe Tabarot framed the case as a matter of safety and professional standards, saying the sanction should fit the facts. While the message “Free Palestine” is short, its delivery over an air traffic frequency turned a political slogan into a workplace breach. The outcome will set a benchmark for how France handles similar cases as tensions evolve.

For now:

• Travelers should check flight status often, arrive early, and follow airline notices.
• Airlines should continue refresher training on radio discipline and remind staff—controllers, security teams, and contractors alike—that political statements during operations are prohibited.

Authorities in France and Israel will keep monitoring the case, and more policy shifts could follow as the September timetable for recognition of Palestine approaches.