Despite Transportation Minister Miri Regev's directive barring additional US refueling aircraft from landing at Ben Gurion Airport, a US refueling tanker landed there after the pilot reported a fuel shortage, according to a report by Itai Blumenthal (N12).
A US refueling tanker landed at Ben Gurion Airport at around 15:22 Jerusalem on Tuesday, about 40 minutes after Transportation Minister Miri Regev ordered that no additional such aircraft land there, directing them to air bases instead. The pilot reported a fuel shortage, according to Itai Blumenthal (N12). The landing underscores the operational friction between US aerial logistics demands and Israeli civil aviation priorities at the airport.
Earlier on Tuesday, at 14:06 Jerusalem, Regev stated that up to 20 US tankers were already at Ben Gurion and that the remainder would be diverted to Israeli Air Force bases. At 14:42, The Zioneer reported that Regev formally barred any further tankers from landing, overriding the original commitment to accommodate more. The thread shows that multiple versions of the story were published at 14:06, reflecting the evolving nature of the announcement. Prior to that, at 13:10, additional US tankers had landed from the Gulf, and at 13:27, Ben Gurion had already barred additional tankers due to congestion, as reported by Israeli media.
As The Zioneer has reported extensively, the US refueling presence at Ben Gurion has been a source of tension for weeks. On Tue 14:12, Washington froze the withdrawal of its tanker fleet, with 33 aircraft remaining, and Israeli aviation officials warned of 50,000 potential summer ticket cancellations. On Thu Jun 18, 13:20 Jerusalem, a US refueler departed the airport amid a fuel crisis. On Sat Jun 27, 13:46 Jerusalem, an emergency was declared after a US aircraft experienced a hydraulic failure. These events frame the current dispute over the number of tankers and their impact on civilian operations.
It remains unclear whether the pilot's fuel shortage claim will be verified or whether the aircraft will be allowed to remain at Ben Gurion or be moved to an air base after refueling. The broader standoff over the tanker count and the effect on summer travel continues to unfold.
5 developments
- DevelopingBen Gurion Airport bars additional US refueling aircraft after four land overnight, report says
- DevelopingAerial refueling aircraft performs emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport
- DevelopingAdditional US refueling tankers land at Ben Gurion Airport from the Gulf
- StrongMinister Regev criticizes Trump: 'Doesn't strike Iran but takes our parking at Ben Gurion'
Source and signal
- Internal intake