By Pesach Benson • 4 May, 2025
Jerusalem, 4 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Several major international airlines canceled flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday after a ballistic missile fired from Yemen struck within Ben Gurion International Airport’s grounds — the first time a missile has landed inside the airport complex.
The missile struck a grove by an access road near one of the terminals. Arrivals and departures at Ben Gurion were temporarily suspended while the runways were checked, but the airport fully reopened within an hour. The Israel Defense Forces said it was investigating why air defenses failed to intercept the missile.
Despite the reopening, several airlines suspended services. Lufthansa, along with its subsidiaries, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and SWISS canceled all flights to Tel Aviv until Tuesday. “Due to the current situation, the Lufthansa Group has decided to suspend its flights to and from Tel Aviv up until and including May 6,” the airline said.
Wizz Air also announced it was canceling flights to Israel until Tuesday morning, saying it was “closely monitoring the situation.” Air France halted its Sunday flights to Tel Aviv, and Spain’s Air Europa canceled its scheduled service from Madrid, citing “security reasons.” Delta Air Lines canceled its Sunday afternoon flight from New York’s JFK Airport but has not yet issued a broader update on its Israel operations. Air India and Transavia flights were diverted to the United Arab Emirates and Greece respectively.
However, other carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines, flydubai, Blue Bird Airways, and Aegean Airlines, continued regular operations, according to the Israel Airport Authority.
As a result of the attack, shares in Israel’s national carrier, El Al rose 6.9%. El Al has flown uninterrupted throughout the war, generating record-high profits. Stock in Israir, a low-budget airline also climbed 3.8% during the day.
The morning attack triggered sirens across central and northern Israel, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Nahariya. Magen David Adom medics treated and evacuated eight people suffering from shrapnel wounds, shock, or injuries sustained while rushing to shelters.
Since March 18, when Israel resumed its campaign against Hamas following a temporary ceasefire, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have launched approximately 27 ballistic missiles and several drones at Israel. The majority were either intercepted or fell short of Israeli territory.
At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 59 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead.
