Chaos at Ben Gurion Airport after outbound passengers refused boarding due to war
Chaos erupted at Ben Gurion Airport on Monday, reportedly after passengers with outbound flight tickets lost their temper when denied permission to board the plane because of shifting wartime restrictions.
Police had to be called to the check-in counters to control disgruntled passengers as they berated airline staff, a day after limited outbound flights resumed from the Tel Aviv-area airport amid the war with Iran.
According to Channel 12, the fracas was caused by the Transportation Ministry telling flag carrier El Al overnight Sunday-Monday that the maximum number of passengers allowed for some flights had been raised from 100 to 200, only to be lowered back to 100 in the morning. Because of the last minute changes, passengers who received notices telling them that their flights were approved were not allowed to board.
Responding to the report, the ministry said it “reiterates that airlines are not permitted to carry more than 100 passengers on an outbound flight, “in accordance with the guidelines of the Civil Aviation Authority and the defense establishment.”
“Airlines need to comply with these procedures to maintain the safety and security of passengers,” said the ministry, which didn’t comment on its adjustment of the flight quotas.
In a statement, El Al said, “We are operating according to the Home Front Command’s guidelines, which are constantly being updated, and........
