A California-Based United Airlines pilot identified as Sina Amjadian has been barred from entering Israeli airspace as a member of an aircraft crew following scrutiny of alleged pro-Iranian regime and Hezbollah sympathies expressed on social media.
However, United has confirmed that Amjadian is not currently flying for the airline and has been on a leave of absence since 2024, according to a statement reported by TheTravel. The airline has not publicly explained why the leave began.
The case has raised questions about airline pilot vetting, aviation security and how social-media activity should be assessed when it concerns someone in a safety-critical position.
According to The Jerusalem Post, Israel's Transportation Ministry notified United on October 21 that Amjadian would not be allowed to enter the country as a crew member. The decision followed information forwarded by Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism.
The allegations concern social-media content reportedly expressing support for Iran's leadership and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as Hezbollah. However, some claims circulating online have not been independently verified. And the available reporting does not establish that Amjadian poses a threat to passengers.
Pilot's Instagram and LinkedIn profiles draw attention
Amjadian's Instagram profile describes him as "Persian made" and LAX-based, with a heart icon displayed beside IKA, the airport code for Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport.
His LinkedIn profile lists United Airlines as his employer from November 2022 to the present. It also indicates that he previously worked for flydubai. The profile also lists an FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate.
In his LinkedIn profile, Amjadian wrote:
"As Captain, I'm required to comply with strict Federal Aviation Administration to ensure safe operation of the aircraft."
The profile information documents his stated professional background. However, it does not independently verify every allegation about his social-media activity.
According to The Jerusalem Post, Amjadian shared images featuring Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside Iranian flags, while criticizing Israeli military strikes in Iran.
The newspaper also reported that an open-source intelligence researcher, Travis Hawley, attributed other expressions of support for the Iranian regime and Hezbollah to Amjadian. Those claims have not been independently verified.
Israel bars pilot from entering as crew member
An Israeli Transportation Ministry spokesperson explained the decision to TheTravel:
“The pilot’s details were forwarded to the relevant aviation security authority […] to ensure that he would not be permitted to enter Israel as a member of an aircraft crew.”
The restriction followed a security review after information about the pilot's alleged social-media activity was passed to Israeli authorities.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the ministry forwarded the information to Israeli intelligence and defence agencies before officials recommended barring Amjadian from entering Israel as flight crew.
The newspaper also reported that Israeli officials contacted United to clarify the pilot's work and flight assignments. According to the ministry, Amjadian operated domestic routes within the United States and routes between the United States and Canada, rather than flights to Israel.
As a result, the Israeli restriction was not expected to affect existing flights to the country.
The decision came amid heightened scrutiny of foreign airline crews following a separate attempted attack aboard a flydubai flight bound for Israel on September 30, 2026. There is no evidence in the reporting that connects Amjadian to that incident.
Is Sina Amjadian still working for United Airlines?
United says he is not currently flying for the airline.
TheTravel reported that a United spokesperson said:
“This pilot is not currently flying for United […] this pilot has been on a leave of absence since 2024.”
Amjadian's LinkedIn profile lists United Airlines as his employer from November 2022 to the present. However, a profile that still lists a company as an employer does not establish that someone is actively working or operating flights.
The available reporting does not establish whether the leave of absence was voluntary or imposed by United. Nor does it confirm whether he will return to flying duties.
This is an important distinction for passengers reading about the case. The Israeli restriction concerns whether he can enter Israel as a crew member; it is not, by itself, evidence that United has dismissed him or that he is currently operating its aircraft.
United Airlines pilot requirements and background checks
Commercial airline pilots in the United States must meet regulatory licensing and qualification requirements. And airlines conduct additional checks before allowing pilots to operate their aircraft.
United's published pilot hiring requirements include appropriate pilot qualifications, a current first-class medical certificate for applicable positions, flight-time requirements and a review of a candidate's experience and records. Its requirements vary according to the pilot recruitment pathway.
The Federal Aviation Administration also requires airlines to review relevant pilot records before allowing a pilot to begin service.
A criminal-background check and review of a pilot's professional record do not necessarily answer every question a foreign government might raise about a crew member's online statements.
In this case, Israel's action followed information about alleged online activity. The publicly available reporting does not establish that United's hiring checks were deficient, or that Amjadian violated an aviation regulation.
Facebook users debate freedom of speech and cockpit security
The controversy has prompted debate on Facebook about freedom of expression, aviation safety and whether passengers should know more about the backgrounds of pilots operating their flights.
One commenter wrote:
"So he can’t have freedom of speech? Maybe understand his statement from a different perspective."
Another wrote:
"How about asking the 8 pilots that were in the four 9/11 planes….2 UAL, 2 AAA… what they think about 1st Amd right on this issue, oh yeah, they are not here to offer their thoughts. God bless them."
A third commenter said:
"They need to pass a law that lets the people flying know what nationality their pilots are."
Another wrote:
"Called this after 9-11 that the next threats would come from inside the cockpit, just like the recent one in the Mideast."
One commenter also raised a claim about facial hair and emergency oxygen masks:
"No Airline Pilot Operating in the U.S. is allowed to have a beard like he has. What’s going on here? It’s against company grooming standards and it poises a risk of fire if the emergency O2 mask is worn."
The beard claim is not an established FAA-wide prohibition. Facial-hair rules can vary by airline. And the relevant safety issue is whether a required oxygen mask seals properly. The comment alone does not establish that Amjadian violated United's grooming policy or that his facial hair created a safety risk.
The discussion reflects a broader tension: pilots have freedom of expression. However, they also hold positions of significant responsibility. Assessing whether particular statements warrant employment or security action requires evidence and a fair process, not assumptions based on nationality or ancestry.
Israel's restriction does not establish that Amjadian has committed a crime or participated in terrorism. Nor does the existence of an FAA licence prove or disprove the allegations concerning his social-media activity. The available reports do not establish that he threatened passengers or attempted to interfere with an aircraft.
For now, the confirmed employment detail is that United says Amjadian is on a leave of absence and is not currently flying for the airline. Questions about why that leave began, whether he will return and how United has assessed the allegations remain unanswered publicly.
