El Al flight to Moscow makes emergency landing in Azerbaijan due to ill passenger

An El Al flight from Ben Gurion Airpot to Russia made an emergency stop in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, due to a passenger falling ill, the national carrier said in a statement Monday.

Flight LY611 was expected to continue its journey to Moscow after the passenger was removed to receive medical treatment, Hebrew media reported.

There was no immediate word on the condition of the passenger.

Regular service between Tel Aviv and Moscow have continued even after Russia’s invasion of its neighbor Ukraine.

Israel has had diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan since 1992, a year after it declared independence from the former Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan has borders with Russia and Iran, Israel’s regional arch-foe.

Also Monday, nine pilots for charter carrier Arkia called in sick, causing the airline to cancel two scheduled flights from Israel to Rhodes in Greece.

It was seen as a deliberate move as the company’s pilots are in a dispute with management over employment conditions.

A statement from Arkia condemned the “wild strike at the height of the tourist season,” the Kan public broadcaster reported.