Ben Gurion Airport

October 8, 2023, 6:52 pm

Airlines cancel Tel Aviv flights as Israelis abroad scramble for way home

Lufthansa, American, Emirates and others nix Tel Aviv trips until Monday at least; Arkia and IsraAir organize rescue flights but El Al says it may scale back some routes

By AFP, Renee Ghert-Zand and ToI Staff

Illustrative: An Etihad Airways plane lands at at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, on October 20, 2020. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)

September 20, 2023, 8:59 pm

Airport Authority: GPS jamming is forcing planes to land using alternative routes

After noise complaints from West Bank settlements, authority cryptically says disruptions likely caused by forces outside the country; Russia was blamed for interference in past

By Michael Horovitz

People smoking in the smoking area in Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion Airport, July 3, 2015. (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

September 14, 2023, 4:03 pm

‘Have we not learned anything?’: Ben Gurion Airport reinstates smoking room

Health Ministry and health organizations denounce decision to give smokers a room in Terminal 3, with Israel Cancer Association warning it will ‘take Israel back to the 1950s’

By Renee Ghert-Zand and ToI Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves to the media before a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides at the presidential palace in Nicosia, Cyprus, September 3, 2023. (Petros Karadjias/AP)

September 4, 2023, 3:12 pm

In Cyprus, an atypically jovial Netanyahu unveils his new charm offensive

PM is riding the widespread outrage over migrant violence in Tel Aviv to patch up his image, and apparently turning his back on the judicial overhaul to win a coveted Biden sit-down

By Shalom Yerushalmi

Travelers at Ben Gurion Airport lie on the ground during an emergency incident on August 31, 2023. (Twitter screenshot used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)

August 31, 2023, 5:16 pm

Suspected car thief smashes through Ben Gurion Airport gate, sparking panic

Travelers at baggage claim told to lie on the floor as incident unfolded outside

By ToI Staff

Illustrative: An El Al flight takes off at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv, October 25, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

August 29, 2023, 4:24 am

El Al flight to New York delayed by birds in the cargo bay

Plane takes off an hour later and lands late at JFK; airports authority warns of flight delays to UK due to technical issues at British air traffic control

By ToI Staff

Mourners attend the funeral of 66-year-old Salman Halabi in Yarka, northern Israel, August 23, 2023. (Flash90)

August 25, 2023, 12:43 pm

Two more suspects arrested in Abu Snan quadruple homicide

Third suspect was nabbed at airport trying to flee country. All four victims of the killing buried; police discover tunnels under Nazareth used by crime family

By ToI Staff

Illustrative: Travelers seen arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, on September 7, 2022. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

August 11, 2023, 4:49 pm

Jewish Iranian stopped at airport on spying suspicions, sent back to Iran – Shin Bet

Agency says man, who has family in Israel, was instructed by Iran’s security services to spy on various targets in country; was given empty tissue box to hide spy tech

By Emanuel Fabian

Minister May Golan, left, argues with a protester at Ben-Gurion airport on August 7, 2023. (screen capture: Twitter; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

August 8, 2023, 5:40 am

After minister alleges attack by protester, video appears to show her as aggressor

Likud’s May Golan says she and her mother were assaulted at the airport, but unedited footage shows the politician pushing the protester back and her mom trying to throw punches

By ToI Staff

Illustrative: The baggage claim area at Ben Gurion Airport,April 2018. (Moshe Shai/Flash90)

August 4, 2023, 4:50 pm

Luggage held up for hours at Ben Gurion, sparking chaos as summer travel peaks

Passengers complain of waiting up to 2 hours for bags; airports authority says it’s working to address problem while union cites manpower shortage, denies speculation of strike

By ToI Staff

A Muslim couple poses for a picture at the Duty Free at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel on April 30, 2016. (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

August 1, 2023, 8:55 pm

‘I felt at home’: Palestinian-Americans see improved treatment at Ben Gurion Airport

US citizens say getting into country much simpler since Israel eased curbs in order to enter Visa Waiver Program; but they fear experience could regress once Israel’s accepted

By Jacob Magid

Israelis protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, July 3, 2023. (AP Photo/ Ohad Zwigenberg)

July 3, 2023, 8:48 pm

Police tussle with anti-government protesters as chaos erupts at Ben Gurion Airport

Chanting ‘Democracy,’ thousands rally at main terminal, stepping up opposition to shakeup of judicial system; police eject protesters from arrivals hall; 52 held, all freed later

By Carrie Keller-Lynn and ToI Staff

Emergency services gathered at Ben Gurion Airport where a passenger plane made an emergency landing, June 1, 2023. (Magen David Adom)

July 2, 2023, 2:19 pm

Cracked window forces plane to make emergency landing at Ben Gurion

Emergency service units stream to airport after United Airlines flight to US with 339 passengers turns back

By ToI Staff

Israelis protest against the government's controversial judicial overhaul on March 9, 2023, at one of the entrances of Ben Gurion Airport (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

July 2, 2023, 12:35 pm

Citing emergency landing, police urge protesters not to shut down Ben Gurion Airport

District commander orders rally to be capped at 5,000 demonstrators and limited to set area; organizers urge Israelis to show up en masse: ‘Won’t let anyone harm right to protest’

By ToI Staff

Israelis opposed to the government's planned judicial overhaul gather in Tel Aviv's Habimah Square, July 1, 2023 (Rony Shapiro)

July 1, 2023, 1:01 pm

‘The protest is intensifying’: 26th week of rallies as coalition advances overhaul

As ministers seek crackdown on demonstrators, women’s protest leader detained this week by police to speak in Tel Aviv; Monday protest at ‘symbol of flourishing democracy’ airport

By ToI Staff