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 unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday.
Major airlines around the world have suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Saturday and fired thousands of rockets into central and southern Israel, resulting 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 international airport.
Over the weekend, a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Ben Gurion Airport was sent back to the US after spending 14 hours in the air, per FlightAware.
In a statement shared with Insider, the FAA said it "urged airlines and pilots to use caution when flying in Israeli airspace."
Hamas launched barrages of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, and its fighters infiltrated Israeli territory by land, sea, and some even 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 local time, 17% of all flights in and out of Ben Gurion had been canceled for that day, per FlightAware.
A spokesperson for British Airways told Insider that it is continuing to operate flights in this area and is monitoring the situation closely.
Israel's national carrier, El Al, also said in an update on its website on Monday that its flights are still running. "EL AL Airlines operates in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces," it said.
The Israel Defence Forces say that 700 Israelis have died and over 1,500 have been wounded in the attacks.
The following airlines have confirmed online or in statements to Insider that they have suspended flights to Tel Aviv:
United Airlines
Wizz Air
Korea Air