Air India Flight Diverted After Missile Attack Near Tel Aviv

New Delhi [India], May 4: A regular Air India flight from Delhi to Tel Aviv became the centre of attention when it had to change its route mid-air. As the plane was nearing Israel, a missile attack was reported near the Ben Gurion Airport. Just an hour before landing, the flight was quickly diverted to Abu Dhabi to keep all passengers and crew safe. The airline later shared that the plane landed without any trouble and would return to Delhi.

Quick decision ensured safety

Air India took the quick step of pausing all flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv till May 6. The airline shared that the safety of travellers is always their top focus. People who had booked tickets for these days can now reschedule or get full refunds. Staff members are guiding affected passengers with their travel changes. The scene at Abu Dhabi remained calm, and there were no reports of injuries on board.

Missile attack near Tel Aviv Airport

Israeli police confirmed a missile landed near the airport early in the day. A thick cloud of smoke rose from the area, and panic spread as travellers rushed to take shelter. Later, a big crater was spotted beside a road near Terminal 3. Thankfully, no serious damage happened to the airport buildings. Four people nearby were said to be slightly injured, according to Israel’s emergency medical service.

Security steps and calm returns

Soon after the missile hit, all flights at the airport were put on hold. Officers checked the area for any other threats. Once they felt everything was safe, normal air traffic slowly resumed. A senior police officer showed the damage and explained how deep and wide the missile crater was. The tension in the air was real, but officials acted fast to control the situation.

Houthi group’s missile claim

The Houthi rebels from Yemen took credit for the missile strike. They claimed in a video that they had fired a hypersonic missile at Israel. This group has supported Palestinians and has launched many attacks since the conflict in Gaza began. In reply to the airport attack, Israel’s Defence Minister promised to act strongly. He said any attack on Israel will be answered with even more power to protect its people.