Delta and United Divert Tel Aviv Flights Amid Israel-Iran Strikes, With Crew Still in the Country

Dozens of US pilots and flight attendants were still in Israel as a massive aerial attack was launched on Iran. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines abruptly diverted Tel Aviv-bound flights back to the US on Thursday night after Israel launched a massive military attack on Iran.

On Thursday night, the Israeli government launched what it described as a ‘preemptive’ self-defensive strike on Iran, targeting more than 100 sites, including nuclear sites.

White House urges Iran not to attack US interests in the region

The attack, dubbed ‘Operation Rising Lion,’ was given the green light by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over fears that Iran was just days away from developing a nuclear weapon.

The White House was quick to distance itself from the attack, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying in a statement that Israel had launched the attack “unilaterally.”

Rubio urged Iran not to target US forces or interests in any counterstrike against Israel.

“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said.

“Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,” Rubio added.

Delta and United’s operations in Israel

Delta and United Airlines are two of only a very small number of foreign airlines that have resumed flying to Israel following a successful ballistic missile attack launched by the Houthis in Yemen early last month.

The missile struck within the perimeter of Tel Aviv’s sprawling Ben Gurion Airport on May 4, prompting many international carriers to suspend flights to Israel for the foreseeable future.

Delta, however, resumed flights to Tel Aviv on May 20, saying it was “continuously monitoring the evolving security environment and assessing operations based on security guidance and intelligence reports.”

‘Flights to nowhere’ as Delta and United planes divert back to US

Despite warnings from the US State Department, Delta sent its once-daily flight to New York JFK on Thursday night. Flight DL234 turned around and started to head back towards New York following the Israeli strike on Iran.

United only resumed flights to Tel Aviv from Newark on June 5. Flight UA84 was mid-way across the Atlantic when it turned back to the US on Thursday night. The flight was due to land back in Newark nearly ten hours after departure.

Of the international carriers currently serving Israel, only Delta and United are believed to have been putting up their pilots and flight attendants overnight in hotels close to Tel Aviv.

US aircrew still in Israel

As Delta and United diverted their flights back to the US, there were still dozens of pilots and flight attendants still in Israel on layovers.

On Friday, United Airlines said it managed to evacuate 26 pilots and flight attendants on one of the last El Al Israel Airlines flights out of the country before the country shut down its airspace.

A spokesperson for the airline said its crew members were now on their way home. Delta has yet to respond to a request for comment.

US forces are understood to be helping to destroy a barrage of around 100 military drones sent by Iran toward Israel.

In April 2024, United had to rescue a group of pilots and flight attendants who were left stranded in Tel Aviv after the last escalation between Israel and Iran. On that occasion, US aircrew were evacuated to European countries before being repatriated to the United States.

Unlike Delta and United, many European carriers have not resumed flights to Israel following the May 2025 ballistic missile attack. When they do return to Tel Aviv, European airlines will not let their crew stay overnight in Israel to minimize any risk to their staff.