Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

Ben Gurion Airport

A plane departs from Ben Gurion Airport, March 16, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
Pilot moved toward extremism as early as 2017 in Australia
UAE confirms flydubai copilot was planning 9/11-style ‘suicide attack’ on Ben Gurion Airport
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Attorney general says Hamam al-Hammami used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to 'familiarize himself with route and airport,' prepared by viewing pro-terror material and taking boxing lessons
A British Airways flight departs Ben Gurion Airport, February 25, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/FLASH90)
October 8, 2026, 3:58 am
British Airways planning to resume flights to Tel Aviv on October 25
After repeatedly postponing return to Israel, UK carrier to operate one daily Tel Aviv-London flight, down from its prewar double-daily service
By Sharon Wrobel
A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft is pictured on the tarmac after landing at Ben Gurion Airport on September 30, 2026. (Jack GUEZ/AFP)
October 7, 2026, 10:40 pm
Saudi Arabia launching its own air safety probe into flydubai attack, sources say
Probe said likely to test international cooperation mechanism for flight safety, is separate from UAE’s criminal investigation into Omani terrorist
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Travelers disembark an Electra plane at Ben Gurion International Airport. September 8, 2025. (Yossi Aloni/FLASH90)
October 7, 2026, 4:25 pm
Israeli airlines often lease foreign planes and crew, while leaving extra security behind
Loophole means passengers who think they are flying with an Israeli carrier can end up on another company’s plane, with no special screenings of pilots or stringent procedures meant to avoid situation like the flydubai attack
By Sharon Wrobel
Hamam al-Hammami, the copilot who tried to bring down a flydubai flight to Israel in a terrorist attack on September 30, 2026, in an undated image from his deleted LinkedIn profile.
October 6, 2026, 2:39 am
Shin Bet agents participating in interrogation of flydubai terrorist in UAE
After rest of flycrew questioned, Israel does not believe any of them were involved in copilot’s attempt to crash Tel Aviv-bound plane full of Israelis; Trump says he ‘personally’ believes Iran responsible
By Emanuel Fabian, Jacob Magid and Agencies
Passengers from flydubai flight FZ1073 walk through the arrivals hall at Ben Gurion International Airport, after their original flight from Dubai to Israel made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following a terror attack by the copilot, who attacked the captain and tried to crash the plane, September 30, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
October 4, 2026, 9:41 pm
Security hurdles slow airlines’ effort to bring stranded Israelis home from Dubai
Air bridge is delayed as heightened security demands following the flydubai terror attack force checked luggage onto separate planes from passenger flights
By Sharon Wrobel
Captain Smit Machchhar (left) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Danny Danon via X, Screenshot/Ma’ayan Toaf/GPO)
October 4, 2026, 2:11 am
Flydubai captain says copilot asked to pray, then struck him from behind; describes exactly how he opened cockpit door
Speaking to PM, Smit Machchhar says terrorist Hamam al-Hammami kept crew outside from using code to enter cockpit; report says pilots from Iran, Syria, Iraq have flown airliners to Israel, and that al-Hammami had done so before
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
Parked airplanes at Ben Gurion Airport, August 8, 2020 (Olivier Fitoussi/FLASH90/File)
October 1, 2026, 7:36 pm
Israeli carriers to start UAE repatriation flights Friday after flydubai cockpit attack
After flydubai suspends Tel Aviv route, El Al, Arkia and Israir plan special flights to pick up stranded Israelis from Dubai; others seek return via nearby Cyprus and Greece
By Sharon Wrobel
Among the saviors of a flydubai airliner after a September 30, 2026, attack by its copilot: L-R top row: Captain Smit Machchhar (Danny Danon via X), Asaf Rajuan (Jack GUEZ/AFP); L-R bottom row: Yaniv Hayun (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum), Tzvika Manes. (Screenshot/Channel 12)
October 1, 2026, 12:53 am
Hailing pilot and three Israeli heroes, passengers say midair ‘miracles’ thwarted alleged attempt to crash plane
Indian flydubai pilot saluted for using ‘last moments of his energy’ to click open cockpit door so knife-wielding copilot could be subdued by Israelis, one of whom says he knew how to stabilize plane from watching TV show about air crashes
By ToI Staff, Emanuel Fabian, Sharon Wrobel and Nava Freiberg
A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft is pictured on the tarmac after landing at Ben Gurion Airport on September 30, 2026. (Jack GUEZ/AFP)
September 30, 2026, 9:20 pm
Israel maintains unique air security arrangements, but flydubai incident shows vulnerabilities
With air marshals, screening and cockpit rules — not to mention the IAF — Israel has famously secure civil flights. Does that help when foreign airlines have different rules?
By Lazar Berman and Emanuel Fabian
Illustrative: Passengers at the Ben Gurion International airport near Tel Aviv, August 23, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
September 27, 2026, 7:31 pm
Ben Gurion Airport parking lots full, travelers told to arrive by public transportation
Israel Airports Authority says parking has hit capacity due to peak Jewish holiday travel season: ‘No parking spaces are available until further notice’
By Sharon Wrobel and ToI Staff
People ride bicycles in Jerusalem on the eve of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, September 20, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 20, 2026, 2:26 pm
Israel shuts down for Yom Kippur, after deadly West Bank terror shooting and with IDF on high alert
Public transportation and airspace close on eve of Day of Atonement; poll finds most Jewish Israelis will fast, including about half of those who identify as secular
By ToI Staff and Emanuel Fabian
An Israir flight takes off from Ben Gurion International Airport, outside of Tel Aviv, August 25, 2024. (Yossi Aloni/ Flash90/ File)
September 7, 2026, 5:27 pm
Israir becomes third Israeli carrier with NYC route, just as US airlines make their return
Wizz Air expands Israel operations with increased weekly flights to European destinations; Delta restarts daily New York flights; United following suit Tuesday
By Sharon Wrobel
Illustrative: Palestinians inspect a house that was set on fire and spray-painted with graffiti during an attack by a group of extremist Jewish settlers in the village of Osarin, south of Nablus in the West Bank, August 23, 2026. (Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)
September 4, 2026, 9:04 am
Four more arrested, including an IDF conscript, on suspicion of settler violence
Two teenagers arrested at airport en route to Uman pilgrimage, plus 29-year-old who violated court order, and army recruit; earlier, police arrested 19-year-old over Qusra violence
By Noam Lehmann
A United Airlines flight lands at Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, March 31, 2025 (Yossi Aloni/ FLASH90)
September 2, 2026, 10:10 am
US airlines bring competition back to NYC route, but fares won’t begin descent for months
Delta and United returning after Iran war hiatus, as Israir set to debut New York service, but prices will stay elevated until November, experts say, and may remain turbulent as long as war fears persist
By Sharon Wrobel
Thousands of passengers wait at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv after operations shut down on August 20, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
August 30, 2026, 5:00 pm
Airport meltdown gives rise to worries that Ben Gurion overcrowding may be terminal
After years of political inertia, Israel’s main gateway may soon be regularly brought to its knees by inability to cope with growing passenger numbers; experts say a second airport is needed to avert crisis
By Sharon Wrobel
Load More

Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community

Sign in or Register

Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Sign in or Register
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.