A ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi military group has evaded Israel’s sophisticated defense network and has hit the outskirts of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport.
The Sunday morning incident occurred just minutes after Israel’s Home Command issued an emergency ‘Red Alert’ for much of Central Israel after attack detection systems identified the ballistic missile attack.
The alert sent millions of people scrambling to seek cover in bomb shelters for the fourth time this week, including at Ben Gurion Airport, where air raid sirens wailed just moments before the missile hit the outskirts of the airport.
Thick black smoke was seen billowing above the airport in view of parked aircraft.
There are reports that several people may have been injured by shrapnel from the missile, although the airport operator reports that there was no damage to the actual infrastructure of the airfield.
Closed-circuit surveillance footage captured the moment the missile hit, while eyewitness video caught the aftermath as passengers and staff ran for cover.
The incident occurred just weeks after many international airlines ramped up operations in Israel after many months of grounding flights due to the security situation in the country.
In the aftermath of the missile attack, an Air India flight bound for Tel Aviv from Delhi initially entered a holding pattern over Jordan before turning around and heading back towards the Persian Gulf.
Other airlines to have canceled or diverted flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday include Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, SWISS, Ryanair, and Wizz Airways.
However, United Airlines flight UA90 from Newark to Tel Aviv, has continued flying towards Tel Aviv throughout Sunday. The airline has been contacted for comment.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Force confirmed the incident, saying: “Following alerts issued in several areas of the country, several interception attempts were made at a missile launched from Yemen. A fall was detected in the Ben-Gurion Airport area, the incident is being investigated.”
Matt’s take – Will Airline Crews Feel Safe Flying to Tel Aviv?
Despite what appears to be a very concerning incident, most international airlines who had suspended flights to Israel for a long time over security concerns don’t appear to be too worried about Sunday morning’s missile strike.
Israeli officials grounded flights for only a short period in the aftermath of the Houthi attack but are confident they can keep Ben Gurion Airport open and operational.
I would imagine, however, that there will be many pilots and flight attendants working at international carriers who are really worried about flying to Tel Aviv, given what just happened.
It’s the reaction of aircrew that could determine whether airlines have to quickly adapt their flying plans to Israel.
A good first step is for Israel to remove the settlements in the West Bank.
A second step would be to be good with a two state deal. Something they agreed to years ago but been against for years.
It is called consequences
.Maybe if they got a higher pay and better benefits I was shocked to find out that they only start getting paid after the main lcabin door gets closed. After landing their pay stops as soon as the door is opened. BThey are working the whole time when we are boarding and debording. They should get paid for this time!!;
This is what terrorists do: they terrorize people. Until other countries and the UN stand up to terrorists and the countries that sponsor these actions, we will never have peace in that region.
Yeah well this is the equivalent of a trump tower being built next to UC berkley and then cheeto man complaining about busted windows daily.