The evacuation of US refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport has been frozen amid the escalation with Iran, according to a report by Yuli Solomon (i24NEWS). The agreement had called for 20 aircraft to remain, but 33 are currently parked — including four added after the promise — raising fears that thousands of summer flight tickets may be canceled starting in August.
The freeze on evacuation of US refueling aircraft marks a new development in the ongoing fuel-truck crisis at Ben Gurion Airport. Earlier today, journalist Einav Kerner reported that tens of thousands of tickets are at immediate risk due to the delay in evacuation. Now, Yuli Solomon (i24NEWS) reports that the evacuation has been frozen entirely, with 33 refueling aircraft currently parked instead of the agreed 20. The reduction in flights during the peak summer season is expected to begin in August. The crisis has been ongoing since June, with the US military originally planning to relocate about 20% of its 72 aircraft. As The Zioneer reported on June 16, the airport chief warned of 100,000 July passenger tickets at risk. Subsequent reports indicated that 20 aircraft had been evacuated by June 25, but the current freeze marks a reversal. The escalation with Iran appears to have halted the withdrawal, adding to concerns over summer travel.
4 developments
- DevelopingTransport Ministry blocks additional US refueling aircraft from landing at Ben Gurion
- StrongUS pledges to remove ~20 refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion by Tuesday, Regev says
- DevelopingAirport chief warns 100,000 July passenger tickets at risk of cancellation
- DevelopingRegev: Ben Gurion operating normally, US refuelers not returning amid evacuation
Source and signal
- Internal intake