Israel-bound passengers still stranded in Turkey

Even as American and European aviation agencies review and lift their bans on flights to Israel, Tel Aviv-bound passengers continue to be stranded in Turkey, with Turkish Airlines refusing to pay for additional nights in Istanbul hotels for passengers stranded in the city after the airline canceled their flights.

Times of Israel reporter Melanie Lidman, who was stranded in Istanbul until she decided to travel on Ukrainian Airlines, which is still operating flights to Israel, says El Al has not operated 4 flights out of Istanbul, as it claims.

She says El Al agreed to pick passengers up from Greece, but that making their way there at the last minute was proving very costly.

— Melanie Lidman in Kiev contributed to this report