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An French air traffic controller transmitted “Free Palestine” to a Tel Aviv-bound El Al flight over the radio 12 minutes after takeoff from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France, on Monday night, according to the airline.
El Al, Israel’s national flag carrier, condemned the breach of professional protocol as “unprofessional and inappropriate” and said it was treating the incident with the “utmost seriousness” in coordination with Israeli authorities, who were in contact with their French counterparts.
In its statement, the airline added that it would “continue flying around the world with the Israeli flag on its aircraft tails with pride, while upholding professionalism and ensuring the safety and security of its passengers and crews.” El Al said it had formally raised the incident with authorities.
The episode came days after El Al’s Paris office was defaced with red paint and hostile graffiti, including the phrase “EL AL GENOCIDE AIRLINE.” No staff were present at the time. French officials condemned the vandalism, and police opened an investigation.
Aviation communications are governed by strict international standards to keep transmissions clear, concise, and strictly operational. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Manual of Radiotelephony calls for standardized phraseology — when plain language is necessary, it must be unambiguous and operational. Non-operational transmissions on control frequencies breach professional standards and undermine the norms expected of controllers and flight crews.
The radio transmission also follows other recent incidents linked to Israel-related tensions at Charles de Gaulle, France’s largest airport. In July 2025, airport management opened an inquiry after a contracted security worker was recorded telling travelers “Free Palestine” at a passport checkpoint, an incident authorities deemed unacceptable.
