British Airways has halted flights to Israel after a plane was turned back due to security concerns. Flight BA165 has returned to Heathrow after approaching Tel Aviv on Wednesday, according to a BA statement. As the plane was nearing the city, there were air raid sirens going off, leading the airline’s crews to inform the pilot, who then requested to return to the UK. A spokesperson for Israel’s airports authority confirmed that there were rockets seen in the city, but they were not seen as an immediate threat to the flight.
The airline said that passenger safety was its “highest priority”. “Following the latest assessment of the situation, we’re suspending our flights to and from Tel Aviv,” BA added. Customers who were booked on flights between or to Tel Aviv will be contacted to offer an apology, as well as options including a refund and rebooking with another airline or with British Airways at a later date. The company is keeping a close eye on the situation in the area.
Many airlines including Emirates, Air France, EasyJet, Lufthansa, Ryanair, and Wizz Air have suspended flights from Israel to the UK since the attack on Israel carried out by Palestinian militants. Virgin Atlantic is currently reviewing its Tel Aviv service. Meanwhile, Hamas has been holding demonstrations and launching flare bombs at the border with Israel in response to the Israeli military’s ongoing actions in Gaza and Jerusalem. The United Nations and Western countries are calling for a ceasefire as violence seems to be escalating in the area.
In response to the worsening situation, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued an order on Thursday to restrict U.S. airlines from flying below 26,000 feet over Israel. The FAA cited the potential for terrorist activity and ongoing unrest as reasons for the order
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More