Air Traffic Controller vocalizes "Free Palestine" message to El Al pilots, leading to suspension
On August 11, 2025, an air traffic controller at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport was suspended for transmitting the phrase "Free Palestine" to the pilots of an Israeli airline, El Al, during takeoff. This incident was confirmed after an investigation triggered by a complaint from the El Al crew.
The French Transport Minister, Philippe Tabarot, announced the controller's suspension from work and initiated an investigation into the matter. The analysis of communication recordings confirmed that the controller indeed transmitted the phrase "Free Palestine."
El Al described the incident as "unprofessional and inappropriate" and liaised with Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority to address the safety concerns raised by the deviation from standard procedures. The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) also condemned the incident, highlighting the breach of safety protocols and political neutrality required in air traffic control communications.
The French government also condemned the incident while simultaneously condemning vandalism against El Al’s Paris offices and affirming that hatred and anti-Semitism have no place in France.
The incident raised concerns about the safety risks when air traffic communications deviate from strict professional standards and procedures, potentially threatening flight safety. It sparked a political and social controversy over expressions of solidarity with Palestine within a sensitive and highly regulated professional environment.
The event triggered a disciplinary and legal response to reinforce the impartiality and professionalism expected of air traffic control personnel. The French air traffic control authority, DSNA, and the French air traffic control union, SNCTA, have all distanced themselves from the actions of the air traffic controller and stressed the importance of maintaining professionalism in the workplace.
The French government has stated that it will take appropriate action to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future and that flight safety remains a top priority. The suspension underscores how political statements in controlled environments like air traffic control can have serious professional, legal, and diplomatic consequences, especially when they involve conflicts with international sensitivity and security priorities.
The French government's response to the air traffic controller's suspension, who transmitted the phrase "Free Palestine" during a flight, highlights the importance of maintaining political neutrality and professionalism in general-news sectors like air traffic control, especially within crime-and-justice contexts. The incident has also sparked a political and social controversy, raising questions about the appropriateness of expressing political solidarity in sensitive professional environments like air traffic control.
