Package emitting smoke triggers hazardous materials operation at Ben Gurion Airport
No reports of injuries, employees evacuated from area; firefighters identified substance that reportedly caused 'thick, black' smoke to rise out of parcel
Firefighters were called to Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday after a package thought to contain hazardous material began to emit smoke.
The Ynet news site said the smoke was “thick and black.”
Airport employees were evacuated from the area to prevent contact with the potentially dangerous object, the Fire and Rescue Service said.
There were no reports of injuries.
According to Hebrew-language media reports, the package had arrived in a shipment from abroad. Ynet said that it had been ordered by an Israeli company. The contents of the package were not immediately clear.
Officials identified the substance and then worked to remove it from the area, the fire service said.
Footage shared by the agency showed two firefighters in hazmat suits appearing to investigate the object outside an airport hanger, in a cordoned off area.
The Fire Service later said the incident was under control.
Flights into Israel — both passenger and freight — have been severely restricted since the outbreak of the war with Iran just over five weeks ago.