United flight from Newark to Israel said delayed, citing nonexistent ‘curfew’

Passengers are claiming that a United Airlines flight from the US’s Newark Airport to Israel has been delayed until tomorrow morning, citing an alleged “curfew” at Ben Gurion Airport due to the security situation.

Despite the operation in Gaza and rocket fire by terrorists not affecting flight plans at Ben Gurion at this time, witnesses have told Channel 12 news that airline crew informed the travelers that the pilot was “refusing” to take off due to a curfew.

The flight, originally planned to take off in the late afternoon on Saturday, has been delayed until 7 a.m. on Sunday.

“I was waiting for the UA84 flight with my kids… but there was a feeling that something wasn’t okay since boarding began, but was slow,” passenger Gil Eyal tells Channel 12. “Suddenly, the United representative announced that the flight was canceled. She stressed that the reason was that the crew was refusing to take off.”

Eyal says he then corresponded on Twitter with United, which claimed the delay was due to a “curfew at Tel Aviv airport and security fears.”