Rabbi Says Brussels Airlines Cancelled Tel Aviv Flight After Pilot Refused to Fly to Israel

Rabbi Menachem Margolin has accused Brussels Airlines of discrimination after saying a Tel Aviv-bound flight was cancelled at the last minute because the pilot refused to fly to Israel.

Margolin said he had received information that flight SN 3289 was cancelled that morning, leaving families, elderly passengers and children at the gate. His account attributes the cancellation to the pilot’s refusal; that explanation has not been independently confirmed.

“Would any airline accept a pilot refusing to fly to another country? This is not neutrality. It is discrimination,” he said.

Families Left Waiting at the Gate

Margolin’s account described passengers already waiting at the gate when their journey was disrupted. He singled out the impact on families, children and elderly travellers, saying the cancellation occurred at the last minute.

The statement did not specify how many passengers were affected, whether they were offered alternative flights or what assistance the airline provided.

Margolin, chairman and founder of the European Jewish Association, presented the incident as a question of equal treatment for people travelling to Israel. His criticism centred on the allegation that an individual pilot’s refusal had prevented the flight from operating.

He did not identify the pilot or specify the explanation the pilot allegedly gave for refusing the assignment.

Earlier Dispute Over Israel Flights

The allegation follows an earlier dispute between Brussels Airlines and unions over staffing its Tel Aviv services.

In September, the airline said pilots and cabin crew could use its existing “unfit to fly” procedure if they did not feel psychologically fit to operate a flight. Airline spokesman Nico Cardone said employees could invoke that procedure without fear of repercussions, The Brussels Times reported.

The clarification followed objections from the ACV Puls union after Israel flights were placed on regular crew schedules rather than staffed exclusively by volunteers. The union cited security concerns and Belgium’s advice against non-essential travel to Israel.

Brussels Airlines said it had discussed employees’ concerns with union representatives and explained the procedures available to staff. At that stage, the airline continued scheduling Tel Aviv services, and another flight to Israel departed following the discussions.

Reason for This Cancellation Remains Unconfirmed

The earlier staffing dispute provides context for Margolin’s allegation, but it does not establish what happened on SN 3289. There is no confirmed information connecting the reported cancellation to the airline’s fitness procedure.

Margolin’s statement began by saying he had “received information” about the incident. He did not describe witnessing the cancellation himself or identify the source of his account.

No Brussels Airlines response addressing this specific incident was located during checks for this article. The pilot’s alleged reason for refusing the flight, the airline’s handling of the cancellation and the arrangements made for affected passengers remain unconfirmed.