- Flight diversions due to missile threat.
- Airlines cancel Tel Aviv services.
- Safety concerns amid regional tensions.
Following the relocation of a British Airways flight captain to London Heathrow due to missile activity in the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport, the airlines took appropriate action.
Virgin Atlantic and British Airways (BA) have canceled their Tel Aviv services in response to Hamas’ claim of an attack on the Israeli airport.
After approaching the airport, a British Airways pilot changed course and returned to Heathrow.
At the time, a spokesman for Israel’s airports authority reported that missiles were near Tel Aviv; however, neither the flight nor Ben Gurion Airport faced an immediate threat.
The armed military branch of Hamas reported that a missile had entered the area. Al Qassam Brigades declared that it had “bombarded” the location in retaliation for Israel’s targeting of civilians.
According to data obtained from the flight-tracking website Flightradar, BA Flight 165 was approaching Tel Aviv during the landing attempt.
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Based on the picture, the plane turned right and flew back over the Mediterranean from Heathrow.
This occurred before Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who was visiting Israel in a show of solidarity, was alerted by a rocket fire siren and sought refuge.
British Airways, one of the few international carriers that had resumed operations to and from Tel Aviv following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Saturday, emphasized passenger safety as its “utmost concern.”
The airline added, “Considering the latest situation assessment, we are suspending all flights to and from Tel Aviv.”
“We are reaching out to customers with reservations for Tel Aviv flights to extend our apologies for the disruption and offer alternative arrangements, such as rescheduling with British Airways or another airline at a later time, or receiving a full refund.”
“We continue to closely monitor the regional situation.”
Earlier in the week, several other airlines, including Wizz, Ryanair, and easyJet, discontinued service to Tel Aviv. It is expected that these airlines will likely continue to do so until the airspace is free of military threats once more.
On Wednesday night, Virgin Atlantic said, “Our main priority is always the safety of our clients and crew.
After careful consideration and in light of the most recent information, we have decided to suspend flights to and from Tel Aviv for the next 72 hours.
Given the evolving circumstances, we will continually assess our flight program.
Our representatives will notify affected travellers about full refunds or rescheduling.
We recommend that travelers check their flight status on the website before heading to the airport.”
