Major airlines suspend flights to Tel Aviv after Hamas attack

Major airlines have canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv.  

Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unknown attack on Israel on Saturday. 

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has since declared a state of war. 

People stay in the departing section at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday after numerous flights from abroad are canceled due to the attacks by Hamas in Tel Aviv, Israel. Turgut Alp Boyraz/ Anadolu Agency via Getty Images 

 

 

 

Major airlines around the world have suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unknown attack on Saturday and fired thousands of rockets into central and southern Israel, performing in hundreds of casualties. 

 

American Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, Wizz Air, EasyJet, Korean Air, and Cathay Pacific are among those who have canceled flights to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv – Israel's only transnational airport. 

 

Over the weekend, a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Ben Gurion Airport was transferred back to the US after spending 14 hours in the air, per FlightAware.

 

In a statement participated with Insider, the FAA said it" prompted airlines and aviators to use caution when flying in Israeli airspace." 

 

 

Hamas launched drumfires of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip beforehand Saturday morning, and its fighters sneaked Israeli home by land, ocean, and some indeed on motorized paragliders. 

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since declared a state of war, and Israel has launched retaliatory attacks on Hamas. 

 

As of Monday afternoon original time, 17 of all flights in and out of Ben Gurion had been canceled for that day, per FlightAware. 

 

A spokesman for British Airways told Insider that it's continuing to operate flights in this area and is covering the situation nearly. 

 

 

Israel's public carrier, El Al, also said in an update on its website on Monday that its flights are still running." EL AL Airlines operates in agreement with the instructions of the Israeli security forces," it said. 

 

The Israel Defence Forces say that 700 Israelis have failed and over 1,500 have been wounded in the attacks. 

 

The following airlines have verified online or in statements to Insider that they've suspended flights to Tel Aviv 

 

• United Airlines 
• American Airlines 
• Cathay Pacific  
• EasyJet 
• Lufthansa 
• Wizz Air 
• Korea Air 
• Virgin Atlantic