Hundreds of United Airlines passengers who had planned a journey from San Francisco to Tel Aviv found themselves on an unexpected 13-hour “flight to nowhere” due to the security situation in southern Israel. This disruption occurred in the wake of attacks by Hamas.
Flight Takes A 180-Degree Turn From Tel Aviv When Israel-Palestine Conflict Is Announced
The longest diversion so far is #UA954, which turned back to San Francisco over Greenland. https://t.co/FSZQLmOeTV pic.twitter.com/KjRpW5QuW4
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 7, 2023
The journey began as Flight UA954 departed from San Francisco at 8:25 PM local time, with Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport as its destination. The Boeing 777 aircraft set out on the 7,422-mile journey, aiming to reach its destination.
However, approximately halfway through the flight, while flying above eastern Greenland, the Boeing 777 executed an abrupt 180-degree turn. It headed back towards San Francisco due to the Israel-Palentine conflict. The flight completed its return and safely landed at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on a Saturday morning, as confirmed by flightradar24.
In response to these unforeseen circumstances, United Airlines prioritized passenger and crew safety. The airline closely monitored the situation and adjusted its flight schedules accordingly. Furthermore, the airline announced the suspension of future operations at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) until conditions permit their resumption.
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Impact On Other Airlines
Flights are continuing to operate at Tel Aviv. For Saturday so far, 14% of flights have been canceled. ~75% have been delayed. Some flights, mostly Wizz and Ryanair, have diverted to alternates. https://t.co/u0Mm0gghIl pic.twitter.com/oc8mYbWycb
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 7, 2023
It wasn’t just United Airlines that faced disruptions. Several Ryanair flights from Continental Europe bound for Tel Aviv had to turn around mid-air. Flights from Budapest, Berlin, Milan, Charleroi, and Baden-Baden experienced similar turnbacks due to the evolving security situation.
Lufthansa, in response, cancelled most of its flights to and from Tel Aviv for the day, maintaining only one flight to Frankfurt. British Airways, on the other hand, continued its normal operations from London Heathrow to Ben Gurion International Airport, with contingency plans in place for possible diversions en route.
However, Wizz Air cancelled several flights to Tel Aviv, including those from London Gatwick, Luton, Iasi, Vienna, and Vilnius, scheduled for Saturday afternoon. This disruption affected numerous passengers who had planned to travel to Tel Aviv on these routes.
The disruption in air travel to Tel Aviv due to the ongoing security situation in southern Israel has impacted multiple airlines and passengers. While safety remains the paramount concern, passengers have found themselves enduring an unexpected 13-hour journey back to their point of origin. Airlines are closely monitoring the situation and making adjustments to their flight schedules as necessary, prioritizing the well-being of passengers and crew in these challenging times.
Cover Image Courtesy: United Airlines