An Air India flight from New Delhi to Tel Aviv was diverted to Abu Dhabi on Sunday due to a missile attack near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The incident occurred less than an hour before the flight, AI139, was scheduled to land. The Boeing 787 aircraft was diverted to Abu Dhabi while in Jordanian airspace, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.com. The flight landed safely in Abu Dhabi and will return to Delhi.
As a result of the incident, Air India has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv until May 6 to ensure the safety of its customers and staff. The airline has also cancelled its Tel Aviv to Delhi flight for Sunday. Passengers with valid tickets for flights between May 4 and 6 will be offered a one-time waiver on rescheduling or full refunds for cancellation.
The missile attack, which was launched from Yemen, landed near the Tel Aviv airport, prompting a brief suspension of air traffic to the airport. Air India’s decision to divert the flight and suspend operations to Tel Aviv is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew.
The diversion of the flight and suspension of operations to Tel Aviv is a significant development, and Air India is taking steps to minimize the impact on its passengers. The airline’s decision to offer a one-time waiver on rescheduling or full refunds for cancellation is a gesture of goodwill towards its customers. The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of air travel, particularly in regions prone to conflict, and the need for airlines to be prepared for such events.
The suspension of flights to Tel Aviv until May 6 will likely cause inconvenience to passengers who have booked flights to and from the city. However, Air India’s priority is the safety of its customers and staff, and the decision to suspend operations is a necessary measure to ensure their well-being. The airline will likely review the situation and resume operations to Tel Aviv once it is deemed safe to do so.