A new directive from the Israel Airports Authority bars additional US refueling aircraft from landing at Ben Gurion Airport, citing severe congestion after four such aircraft landed overnight, according to an Israeli media report. The move follows a separate Transport Ministry order earlier Tuesday.
Four US refueling aircraft landed at Ben Gurion Airport overnight, causing severe congestion, according to an Israeli media report. In response, the Israel Airports Authority issued a new directive Tuesday barring additional US refueling aircraft from landing, citing the congestion. The move follows a separate order from the Transport Ministry earlier Tuesday that had already prohibited such landings.
The Zioneer reported earlier Tuesday (10:24 Jerusalem) that the Transport Ministry, under Minister Miri Regev, issued an extraordinary temporary order instructing air traffic control not to approve landings of US refueling aircraft. That order came after a series of developments: the US initially canceled, then froze, the evacuation of its refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion, leaving 33 aircraft parked at the airport and threatening up to 50,000 summer flight tickets. Reports evolved from an initial cancellation to a freeze, then to the minister blocking additional landings, and finally to the formal ministry directive.
As The Zioneer reported on Tuesday, the dispute over US refueling aircraft has been escalating, with airport officials warning that the refusal to allow additional landings could put 50,000 flight tickets at risk through the end of July. Earlier background reports noted that 20 US aircraft had been evacuated by late June, but the situation reversed amid the escalation with Iran.
It remains unclear whether the four aircraft that landed overnight did so in violation of the Transport Ministry order or before it took effect. The operational impact of the new airport authority directive and whether it signals a coordinated policy between the authority and the ministry also remain uncertain.
7 developments
- StrongRegev bars further US refueling planes at Ben Gurion, orders diversion to air bases
- DevelopingUS keeps 33 refueling tankers at Ben Gurion; aviation officials warn of 50,000 summer ticket cancellations
- DevelopingAerial refueling aircraft performs emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport
- DevelopingAdditional US refueling tankers land at Ben Gurion Airport from the Gulf
Source and signal
- Internal intake