TEL AVIV: British Airways (BA) has temporarily suspended flights to Tel Aviv after Hamas claimed it had targeted Ben Gurion Airport.
The decision came after a BA flight was approaching the airport when the captain opted to divert back to Heathrow.
According to an Israel airports authority spokesperson, rockets were observed in the vicinity of Tel Aviv, although they weren’t an immediate threat to the flight or the airport.
Hamas’s armed wing, Al Qassam Brigades, stated that they had struck the airport in response to civilian buildings targeted by Israel.
Flight-tracking website Flightradar data indicated that the affected flight, BA165, was close to Tel Aviv when it changed course. The plane banked to the right and retraced most of its inbound path from Heathrow, flying back over the Mediterranean.
This incident occurred prior to a warning siren for rocket fire sounding, forcing UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to seek shelter during his visit to Israel.
British Airways Puts Safety First
British Airways, one of the few global airlines to continue flying to Tel Aviv since the recent conflict began, stated that safety remains their top priority. Their statement explained the decision to suspend flights and offered options for affected customers, including refunds and rebooking.
Other airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air, had already halted Tel Aviv services and were expected to maintain their position. Virgin Atlantic had limited its schedule and was still considering whether to suspend all flights to the city.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson emphasized that safety is their primary concern and that they are reviewing their flying program while no final decision had been made.
