Panic in the air: Lufthansa crew abandons flight to Israel mid-journey

This morning (Thursday) Lufthansa flight LH682 from Munich to Tel Aviv landed in Larnaca, Cyprus. Passengers, who were already informed before takeoff from Munich that the flight would stop in Larnaca for crew change, were surprised to hear after landing that Lufthansa's security department did not approve the continuation of the flight to Ben Gurion Airport.

The company officially announced that the flight would return to Munich "as a precautionary measure due to security activity," and that the continuation flight from Larnaca to Tel Aviv and the return flight LH683 from Tel Aviv to Munich would be canceled.

An Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna to Ben Gurion Airport also turned back. Approaching landing, the captain announced that due to the situation, the plane was being diverted for refueling in Bulgaria. The plane then continued to Vienna and landed there.

Meanwhile, Fly Dubai joined the trend and announced the cancellation of two flights to Israel, without providing further details on flight times or alternatives for passengers. This move joins the decisions of American companies United Airlines and Delta Airlines, which announced yesterday the suspension of routes at least until August 6. United, which usually operates 14 weekly flights to Israel, is expected to announce additional cancellations later this week.

The current situation poses significant challenges for Israeli and international passengers, as flight options to and from Israel are dramatically reduced. Airlines emphasize that passenger and crew safety is their top priority and promise to provide alternative solutions for passengers whose flights have been canceled.

* Kann 11 News contributed to this article.