Delta Flight Bomb Threat: New York–Tel Aviv Plane Evacuated After Landing at Ben Gurion Airport
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
A Delta Air Lines flight from New York was evacuated after landing at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday, October 13, following a bomb threat. Passengers were escorted into the terminal while investigators searched the aircraft, but authorities later confirmed that no suspicious findings had been detected.
Bomb threat turns out to be false
According to reports by The Jerusalem Post and Israeli media outlet Ynet, authorities received information about a possible explosive device on board the aircraft. Passengers were moved off the plane as security personnel carried out checks.
The aircraft, an Airbus A330, was searched, and the threat was subsequently declared unfounded.
“The incident has ended with no unusual findings. Operations have returned to normal,” an Israel Airports Authority spokesperson told Ynet.
What we know about the Delta flight
Delta operates a daily service between New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Tel Aviv. The aircraft involved in Tuesday’s incident departed JFK shortly after 3.30 pm on Monday and landed at Ben Gurion Airport at around 8.30 am local time on Tuesday.
The number of passengers and crew on board at the time of the evacuation was not immediately clear.
Incident follows alleged mid-air attack on flydubai captain
The bomb threat comes days after an alleged attack on a captain aboard a flydubai flight. According to Israeli media reports, Omani national Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar while the aircraft was flying over Jordan.
Reports by Channel 13 and News24 said al-Hammami told investigators he had planned to divert the aircraft to Tel Aviv and crash it into a building or another plane at Ben Gurion Airport.
He allegedly said he had selected flydubai because it operated flights to Israel and had planned the plot before joining the airline. Israeli reports also said he intended to kill the captain inside the locked cockpit and take control of the aircraft.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar reportedly managed to force open the cockpit door. Passengers helped restrain the suspect, while two off-duty pilots took control and flew the aircraft to safety in Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu orders review of flight security
Following the reported incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a review of security arrangements for international flights into the country.
