First Flight Returning Israelis Stuck Abroad Arives in Israel

Jerusalem, 18 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Early Wednesday morning, the first flight landed at Ben Gurion Airport as part of the “Safe Return” operation, which is designed to return home Israeli travelers who were forced to remain abroad due to the closure of air traffic to Israel due to the war with Iran. The operation is being managed in a “phased manner and in accordance with the level of risks and the assessment of the security situation, while emphasizing the safety of passengers, air crews, and aircraft,” said the Transportation Ministry.

The first El Al flight to land at Ben Gurion Airport this morning brought back passengers from Larnaca.

In accordance with the plan, the Airports Authority increased the number of employees at Ben Gurion Airport in order to evacuate the passengers from the airport as quickly as possible. They underwent an expedited procedure for entering Israel and collecting their luggage. At the end of the procedure, the passengers were transported to their vehicles in Ben Gurion Airport parking lots and via shuttles and trains to city centers across the country.