Trolled: Paris air traffic controller broadcasts “Free Palestine” to ‘Israeli’ pilots

A French air traffic controller at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) has been suspended after broadcasting “Free Palestine” to the crew of an 'Israeli' El Al flight shortly after takeoff on Monday night.

The controller, in a breach of protocol, used the airport's communication system to transmit the phrase "Free Palestine" to the pilots.

Following the incident, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarrot announced that the air traffic controller responsible for the broadcast had been suspended from their position.

The broadcast has been condemned by El Al as "unprofessional and inappropriate". The airline stated that any "deviation from standard procedures could lead to disaster during takeoff".

International aviation protocols mandate that radio frequencies are to be used exclusively for messages necessary for air traffic control or air safety, and expressly forbid "non-operational conversations" with pilots.

El Al has confirmed it is in contact with ‘Israel's’ Civil Aviation Authority, which is coordinating with its French counterparts to address the matter.

The incident comes amid a period of heightened tensions between France and ‘Israel’.

In recent months, ‘Israeli’ interests in Paris have faced a series of challenges, including French authorities halting visa renewals for El Al security personnel, an incident where pro-Palestinian activists vandalized El Al's offices with red paint, and organizers at the Paris Air Show shutting down the ‘Israeli’ pavilion.