A British Airways flight from London to Tel Aviv abruptly turned back shortly before its scheduled landing in the Israeli city due to safety concerns. Flight BA165 from London’s Heathrow Airport was returning to its original destination when it was recalled. This decision was made amid ongoing intense fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, which has led to rocket attacks on Tel Aviv.
British Airways confirmed that it suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv as of late Wednesday, prioritizing safety. The airline is reaching out to customers who had booked flights to or from Tel Aviv to offer options, including refunds or rebooking on other airlines. The airline has not provided a specific date for when flights will resume.
Several other international airlines with connections to Tel Aviv, including Virgin Atlantic and U.S. carriers like Delta, United, and American Airlines, have also canceled flights or codeshare services due to the escalating situation. Additionally, many countries have arranged special repatriation flights to evacuate their citizens from Israel.