An El Al flight from Warsaw found itself at the center of a diplomatic storm when Turkish authorities ultimately refused to refuel the aircraft during an emergency medical landing in Antalya. This incident, occurring on Sunday, has not only raised questions about aviation protocol and humanitarian concerns but also highlighted the volatile nature of Israel-Turkey relations.
The situation unfolded in a series of confusing communications. According to Kann News, i24 and Walla News, the flight crew initially received permission to de-board passengers and refuel. However, Turkish officials then backtracked, citing the need for additional permits to fuel the plane. After a period of uncertainty, the crew was ultimately informed that they would not be allowed to either refuel or de-board, as reported by Israel's Army Radio. This forced the Boeing 737-800, carrying an elderly passenger in need of urgent medical attention, to make an additional flight to Rhodes, Greece, for refueling.
This refusal stands in sharp contrast to Israel's history of assistance to Turkey. In past crises, such as the devastating earthquakes in 2023, 2011 and 1999, Israel was among the first nations to dispatch search and rescue teams, field hospitals, and humanitarian supplies.
Meidan Bar, chairman of the Israeli Pilots Association, described the incident as "unusual and unacceptable" in the context of global aviation norms. The refusal to refuel, while not explicitly against regulations, contradicts the customary practice of providing necessary services to aircraft making emergency landings.
This reversal in Turkey's stance comes against the backdrop of strained Israel-Turkey relations, exacerbated by the ongoing Iron Swords War and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's trade embargo on Israel. However, Turkey is not classified as an enemy state to Israel, making the refusal to refuel all the more perplexing and potentially damaging to bilateral relations.