Chaos at airport as passengers find out at check-in counters they can’t board

Chaos broke out at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport earlier today when passengers who had tickets to depart on an outbound flight lost their temper after discovering at the last minute that they were not allowed to board the plane, Channel 12 reports.

Police had to be called to check-in counters at the airport to control disgruntled passengers as they fought over seats with airline staff.

The confusion is said to have been caused by the Transportation Ministry informing Israel’s flag carrier El Al last night that the quota on some outbound flights was raised to 200 passengers from 100 per aircraft. By early this morning, the Transportation Ministry is said to have reverted to 100 passengers per outbound aircraft.

כאוס בנתב"ג: באל על קיבלו אתמול אישור להעלות 200 נוסעים בחלק מהטיסות – אך היום המספר ירד חזרה ל-50 – נוסעים רבים נותרו זועמים בדלפקי הצ'אק אין לאחר שהגיעו לנתב"ג.

דיילי קרקע: "איבוד עשתונות – סגרו דלפקי צ'ק אין. יש אלימות בין המשטרה לנוסעים"@Dean_Fisher_ pic.twitter.com/VWNGoTxD3X

— החדשות – N12 (@N12News) March 9, 2026

“The Transportation Ministry reiterates that airlines are not permitted to carry more than 100 passengers on an outbound flight, in accordance with the guidelines of the Civil Aviation Authority and the defense system,” the Transportation Ministry says in response. “Airlines need to comply with these procedures to maintain the safety and security of passengers.”

As a result of the confusion, more passengers received notices for departures on some flights, but were not permitted to board.

“We are operating according to the Home Front Command’s guidelines, which are constantly updated, and apologize for the inconvenience to the company’s customers,” El Al says in a statement.