New Delhi: An Air India flight en route from New Delhi to Tel Aviv was diverted to Abu Dhabi on Sunday following a missile strike close to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. Flight AI139 was approaching Tel Aviv when it was redirected mid-air, less than an hour before its scheduled landing, after reports emerged of a missile impact near the airport. As per data from Flightradar24.com, the aircraft was over Jordanian airspace when the decision to divert it was made.
Following the incident, Air India’s return flights from Tel Aviv to Delhi scheduled for May 5 and May 6 have been cancelled. The airline has not yet issued an official statement on the diversion or cancellations.
Earlier in the day, Israeli police confirmed that air traffic at Ben Gurion Airport was temporarily halted due to a missile launch from Yemen. Operations resumed after security teams conducted thorough inspections around the airport.
Footage showed smoke rising near the airport shortly after the missile strike, prompting panic among passengers. According to Reuters, the missile landed near Terminal 3’s parking area, leaving a large crater but causing no major structural damage. Israeli police commander Yair Hetzroni showed the impact site to reporters, describing it as a crater several metres wide and deep. Emergency services reported that four individuals sustained minor injuries.
The Houthi rebels, based in Yemen and aligned with the Iranian axis, claimed responsibility for the strike. In a video statement, the group said it had launched a hypersonic ballistic missile at the Israeli airport in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Reacting to the attack, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed retaliation, stating, “Whoever harms us will be struck sevenfold.”
