Jooish

A private Egyptian jet landed at Ben Gurion Airport on September 26, 2023, just 11 days before the October 7 massacre Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday on Channel 14 that the head of Egyptian intelligence was aboard the aircraft This contradicts a Kan News report identifying the passengers as two Egyptian businessmen who entered Israel through the Fattal Terminal The aircraft, operated by Egypt’s Smart Aviation, received ground services from QAS and departed for Cairo about an hour later without passengers Netanyahu denied meeting the Egyptian intelligence chief and questioned whom he had met instead The purpose of the visit and the identities of those involved remain unclear

Israel’s Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Pentagon have signed a deal to purchase 12 advanced Apache attack helicopters for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), manufactured by American aerospace company Boeing.

Arkia is suspending its Japan route after Japanese authorities refused to approve flights operated using a wet-leased aircraft Flights scheduled through December 23 offer passengers either a full refund or assistance finding alternative flights All Tokyo flights scheduled from December 24 onward are canceled with no alternative flights available through Arkia Passengers who booked directly with Arkia can contact [email protected]

Three Riyadh Air Boeing 787 Dreamliners were evacuated from Riyadh within 25 minutes following a missile strike near the airport A fourth Boeing 787 was repositioned from Jeddah to Lahore Riyadh Air has reportedly canceled more than 70% of its scheduled flights King Khalid International Airport is expected to remain closed until October 17

All four major Moscow airports were temporarily shut down overnight on October 14 following a drone threat targeting the Russian capital Sheremetyevo Vnukovo Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports faced flight restrictions causing delays cancellations and diversions Restrictions were later lifted but further operational limits remained at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky with Aeroflot adjusting its flight schedule

A Piper PA-46 Malibu crashed Tuesday night near Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, killing all six people on board including one child The aircraft was flying from Kenosha to Menomonie when it went down in a wooded area near Mirror Lake State Park The pilot reportedly reported ice accumulating on the wings before requesting to descend The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause of the fatal crash

Air Tahiti’s newest ATR 72-600, registered F-OPFO, is undertaking a six-day delivery journey from Toulouse, France, to Tahiti, covering approximately 14,455 miles across nine airports The aircraft features an exclusive 26-seat all-business-class cabin, with every passenger enjoying a window seat and direct aisle access The journey includes stops across the Middle East, Asia and Australia before crossing the Pacific to Papeete, French Polynesia The aircraft will then operate premium short-haul flights connecting Tahiti with Bora Bora and Raiatea, including some sectors lasting just 20 minutes

Long Island MacArthur Airport Named America’s Best Small Airport Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) in Ronkonkoma, New York, has been ranked No. 1 in USA Today’s 2026 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards The airport climbed from second place in 2025 and third in 2024 to claim its first-ever top ranking Travelers praised its shorter security lines, convenient parking and smoother experience compared with JFK and LaGuardia

Aircraft Graveyard The Wall Street Journal reports that Saudi airlines are racing against time to evacuate aircraft worth up to $4 billion from Riyadh Airport amid deadly Houthi attacks Between Thursday’s Houthi attack and yesterday the number of aircraft parked at Riyadh Airport reportedly dropped from 134 to just 38

Herzog Bypasses Erdogan’s Ban on Israeli Government Aircraft Israeli President Isaac Herzog flew to Baku, Azerbaijan, aboard an AZAL Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, reportedly bypassing Turkey’s ban on Israeli government aircraft According to Middle East Eye, the flight crossed Turkish airspace, and Ankara was reportedly not informed Herzog was on board During Herzog’s speech at an international conference in Baku, representatives of Iran, Turkey, Kuwait, Pakistan and the Palestinian Authority walked out, while Qatar’s Emir remained seated

Yisroel Ouzan, Director-General of Israel’s Ministry of Interior, paid a visit to Herzliya Airport today

United Airlines passengers can now check whether their flight is equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi Visit StarlinkTracker.United.com to see if your plane has Starlink

👀Unusual and increased aircraft activity has been reported over Beersheba and southern Israel in recent hours The area is home to Nevatim Airbase (BAM), one of the largest and most strategically important Israeli Air Force bases in Israel

A Delta Connection Bombardier CRJ900 aborted its landing at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) on October 7 after a NetJets Embraer Phenom 300 took off from an intersecting runway without ATC clearance Delta flight DL5415 from Omaha came within approximately 100 feet of the runway before executing a go-around Flight tracking data indicates the two aircraft came within roughly 1,000 feet of each other during the near-miss The FAA is investigating the runway incursion after confirming the private jet departed without air traffic control authorization

Singapore Airlines Flight SQ31, an Airbus A350-900 (9V-SJC), was forced to turn back to San Francisco (SFO) on October 14 after a disruptive passenger incident The flight had been heading to Singapore (SIN) on a scheduled 16-hour nonstop journey across the Pacific Nearly eight hours after departure, the aircraft safely landed back at SFO Police and paramedics met the aircraft upon arrival as authorities investigated the incident

United Airlines Flight UA330, a 34-year-old Boeing 767-300ER (N651UA), experienced a weather radar malfunction shortly after departing Washington Dulles (IAD) for Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) on October 10 The crew consulted United’s flight operations team to assess the impact on the planned North Atlantic crossing The aircraft continued across the Atlantic and landed safely in Paris with no injuries reported

Turkish Airlines Flight TK1808, an Airbus A321neo (TC-LPA), declared an emergency after strong winds prevented it from landing at Istanbul Airport (IST) on Wednesday After two aborted landing attempts and extended holding patterns, the crew reportedly declared a low-fuel emergency using Squawk 7700 The aircraft diverted to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) and landed safely with no injuries reported

Air India flight AI2030, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, diverted to Jaipur on October 14 after squawking 7500, the international hijacking code The Frankfurt to Delhi flight landed safely at approximately 9:35 AM local time with all 306 passengers and crew safe This marks the third reported Squawk 7500 incident in less than two weeks, raising heightened aviation security concerns The aircraft was escorted to a remote isolation bay for security checks as authorities investigate whether the alert was triggered inadvertently

A pilot received a heartwarming message mid-flight from his airline’s Operations Control Center (OCC) after his brother shared the news that his daughter had been born The message confirmed both mother and baby were doing well and congratulated the captain on behalf of the entire OCC team The message was transmitted via ACARS a digital communication system used by aircraft to exchange operational messages with the ground

German customs officers discovered 92 reptiles hidden in a passenger’s suitcase at Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN), including 37 venomous snakes and 55 lizards The animals were concealed in shampoo bottles, cream containers and socks, with around 30 reportedly dying during or after the journey from Mexico The 45-year-old Mexican passenger was denied entry into Germany and sent back to Istanbul

Lufthansa is taking precautions at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) amid jet fuel supply concerns linked to maintenance on a fuel supply pipeline Lufthansa aircraft have reportedly been instructed to carry extra fuel where possible to reduce reliance on refueling at Frankfurt The disruption could affect fuel deliveries at one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs Airlines are monitoring the situation as authorities work to maintain reliable fuel supplies

Unusual congestion was reported this morning at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) at the duty-free shopping pickup area, nearly blocking the exit from passport control Passengers arriving on early-morning long-haul flights waited approximately 40 minutes to collect duty-free purchases they had ordered before leaving Israel The reason for the unusual congestion remains unknown

Lufthansa LH459 pilots were furious after waiting 17 minutes for takeoff clearance at San Francisco (SFO) on October 9, 2026. The A380 crew questioned the coordination between tower and approach controllers, arguing that the delay wasted huge amounts of fuel. Air traffic control pushed back, while the pilots vowed to file a report.

🇮🇱 EL AL 777 Faces Chaotic Go-Around at JFK! A Boeing 777-200ER operating flight LY7 from TLV was preparing to land on Runway 4R when an animal, believed to be a goose, was reported on the runway. ATC instructed the crew to go around, turn right to heading 130, and climb to 2,000 feet, but confusing radio communications quickly followed. The pilots repeatedly asked for heading clarification, while the controller reportedly responded, “I don’t know, I’m not sure.” The delayed turn raised concerns about potential traffic conflicts with another departing aircraft. The EL AL jet eventually landed safely and was given a number to call.

👀Unusual and increased aircraft activity has been reported over Beersheba and southern Israel in recent hours The area is home to Nevatim Airbase (BAM), one of the largest and most strategically important Israeli Air Force bases in Israel

REPORT: Israeli Fighter Jets Airborne for Fifth Consecutive Night Amid Fears of a Possible Iranian Attack A source close to the Israeli Air Force tells Belaaz that numerous fighter jets have been airborne and armed for five consecutive nights The source warns that Iran could target Israeli airbases and strategic sites if it strikes first @Beelaz

Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz revealed at the ITech Israel Information Technology Conference in Tel Aviv on October 15 that AI is already transforming the airline’s operations, helping reduce its workforce by approximately 20%. Despite the technological revolution, he warned that AI won’t make flights cheaper, saying fuel prices remain the biggest factor. Berlowitz also revealed that Arkia doubled its flights to Hanoi, while its planned Tokyo service remains on hold due to landing approval challenges. Regarding pilotless planes, he said he doubts passengers would be willing to board one. Editors Note: With Arkia’s customer service already receiving criticism from passengers, it remains unclear how cutting 20% of the workforce will improve the customer experience.

Viral Plane-Spotting Attraction in Greece Sends Tourists to Hospital Skiathos Airport (JSI), famous for its extremely low-flying aircraft, attracts tourists seeking dramatic videos of planes landing and taking off Powerful jet blast has caused serious injuries, including a 52-year-old Italian tourist airlifted to hospital with a head injury and another tourist who suffered a broken arm

A Delta Connection DL5090 landed safely in Detroit after the captain reported a conflict between flight attendants and requested ground supervisors meet the aircraft at the gate. The Endeavor Air CRJ-900 departed Greenville-Spartanburg on October 13 before the captain warned that crew members might need to be separated to prevent further escalation. The aircraft arrived at Gate C21, where management was waiting. The cause of the onboard dispute remains unknown.

Italy cut air traffic capacity by 50% on Friday after a nationwide technical fault disrupted the data network supporting air traffic control ENAV ruled out a cyberattack or sabotage, confirming the incident was caused by a technical failure Full operational capacity has since been restored

ALARMING INCIDENT near Nevatim Air Base as a paraglider landed in a Bedouin encampment opposite Moshav Nevatim at 8:30 AM last Shabbas Residents raised security concerns and contacted police, who said officers were searching for the pilot Police later said no criminal incident was known

Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) is scheduled to suspend all takeoffs and landings today, Friday, October 16, from 6:00 PM to 10:55 PM local time The planned five-hour closure is for scheduled maintenance work The closure is unrelated to the security situation, and airlines have adjusted their schedules accordingly

Runway 972 News

Follow Runway 972 News's WhatsApp Channel. Runway 972 News delivers timely, accurate updates on Israeli aviation, alongside key global developments and Jewish aviation. From airline operations and airport updates to airspace changes and industry trends, we keep you fully informed with a strong focus on Israel and Jewish aviation worldwide.. Get the latest updates directly on WhatsApp.

whatsapp.com

We’re now on WhatsApp Channels as well Get the same great aviation news and updates in an even easier way 👇 Follow our channel here https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDqaS22UPBGblylOr3y

A Bombardier Challenger 604 operated by Triton Aviation declared a MAYDAY after its door detached shortly after takeoff from Abuja, Nigeria (ABV) The aircraft, registered T7-SEI, was climbing through 3,500 feet en route to Lagos when the crew turned back The jet landed safely on Runway 22 just 22 minutes after departure with all 9 people aboard uninjured Nigeria’s NSIB has recovered the detached door and launched an investigation into the incident

FAA RESUMES FLIGHT DECK TRAINING FOR ATC Air traffic controllers will soon get the chance to experience life in the cockpit firsthand by flying in the jumpseat The program is expected to launch after Thanksgiving, giving controllers up to two flights per year HEY ATC CONTROLLERS ARE YOU TAKING UP THIS OFFER OR ARE YOU HAPPY STAYING ON THE GROUND 😎

UNSEEN IMAGES OF THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER’S AIRCRAFT EMERGE Never-before-seen photos of the Israeli Prime Minister’s aircraft have surfaced over the past week or two It remains unclear where the images originated, but they offer a rare glimpse into something the public has rarely seen before

Flydubai continues to cancel flights to Israel, this time extending the suspension until November 15.

The FAA and NATCA (National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union representing U.S. air traffic controllers) have reached an agreement granting controllers a 2.8% pay raise, effective October 18, 2026, retroactive to the start of the year The deal is tied to new workforce management reforms, including tracking controllers’ working hours The reforms aim to improve staffing levels, operational efficiency, and transfers between air traffic control facilities

Edelweiss Air flight WK34, an Airbus A340-300 (HB-JMC) bound for Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, was forced to return to Zurich (ZRH) after a cockpit warning indicated the landing gear doors were not closed. The crew circled at 8,000 feet for around 20 minutes to burn fuel before climbing to 22,000 feet to complete checklists. The aircraft landed safely on Runway 34 approximately 90 minutes after departure. No injuries were reported.

JETEX VIP LOUNGE AT BEN GURION AIRPORT Jetex operates a 250-square-meter VIP lounge in Terminal 3’s duty-free area, near Chabad The lounge welcomes several hundred passengers daily, with premium seating, work areas, fast WiFi and charging stations Popular refreshments include fresh bourekas from Tel Aviv’s Levinsky Market, Israeli kosher wines from Recanati, Tzuba and Ohayon wineries, and Nespresso coffee Coffee consumption averages 1.5 cups per passenger, while Coke Zero is the lounge’s most popular soft drink Desserts are supplied daily by pastry chef Dudu Autmaseg A second, larger 370-square-meter Jetex lounge is expected to open in the coming months

✈️ Did you know the US Navy operates a military version of the Boeing 737 called the C-40A Clipper? The Navy’s fleet of 17 aircraft can carry up to 121 passengers, eight cargo pallets, or a combination of both, with a range of approximately 3,142 nautical miles. Introduced in 2001, these versatile aircraft transport sailors, military cargo, and critical supplies around the world!

Saudi Arabia Two crew members killed in military helicopter crash near the Yemen border The Saudi National Guard AH-6i helicopter reportedly crashed in the Najran region of southwestern Saudi Arabia The cause of the crash remains unclear

On Friday morning, a Belavia Airbus A330-200 widebody aircraft landed at Ben Gurion Airport carrying more than 200 new immigrants from Belarus to Israel for the NAALE and SELA programs NAALE allows eligible teenagers from abroad to complete their high school education in Israel, while SELA helps eligible young immigrants prepare for further education and integration into Israeli society The widebody arrival is a rare sight, as Belavia typically operates smaller Airbus A320 aircraft on its flights to Israel 📸: arman.spotter

American Airlines will launch its first-ever nonstop flights from Miami (MIA) to Barcelona, Venezuela (BLA), on January 15, 2027, operating three times weekly on Embraer E175 regional jets. The new route will make Barcelona American’s third Venezuelan destination, alongside Caracas and Maracaibo, bringing its network to 24 weekly departures. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale October 19 as American continues rebuilding its Venezuelan network.

Airbus is recommending inspections of 139 A330neo aircraft delivered between 2021 and May 2026 after a tool was discovered inside the horizontal tail structure of a jet during production. The issue involves both the A330-800neo and A330-900neo, with Airbus coordinating inspection procedures with EASA. Airbus says there is no immediate safety concern, and the discovery does not mean every aircraft is affected. A further update on the inspection plan is expected in mid-November.

United Airlines UA1900, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying from Seattle (SEA) to Newark (EWR), nearly diverted to Chicago (ORD) after a 69-year-old passenger became trapped inside a lavatory at 35,000 feet due to a malfunctioning door. After 15 minutes of unsuccessful attempts to free her, the crew prepared for an emergency landing. Fortunately, flight attendants managed to release the passenger during the descent, allowing the flight to continue to Newark, where medical personnel were waiting.

A Wizz Air flight Today from London to Ben Gurion Airport triggered an alert at Israel’s National Passenger Screening Center after the system flagged one of the pilots as unauthorized to enter Israel According to Dean Fisher, after checking with the airline, authorities cleared the flight to continue to Israel and are now investigating what caused the alert to appear in the system

BREAKING — Austrian Airlines Flight OS82 Declares Emergency Austrian Airlines flight OS82 from Tel Aviv to Vienna squawked 7700 and diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria Reports of a possible bomb threat onboard are being investigated The aircraft landed safely in Sofia

BREAKING — Austrian Airlines Flight OS82 Declares Emergency Austrian Airlines flight OS82 from Tel Aviv to Vienna squawked 7700 and diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria Reports of a possible bomb threat onboard are being investigated The aircraft landed safely in Sofia

🇮🇱🇦🇹🇬🇪 Following reports of a bomb threat onboard, the aircraft has been moved to an isolated stand at Sofia Airport Passengers are disembarking as the aircraft undergoes a comprehensive security inspection

BREAKING A private jet reportedly overran the runway at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS) The incident prompted the FAA to halt flights bound for Las Vegas from airports across the western United States

Meet the Boeing Dreamlifter, one of the largest and most unusual-looking cargo planes in the world! It transports massive Boeing 787 Dreamliner parts between manufacturing facilities. Ever wondered where the crew sits on this giant? The cockpit is at the front, and the aircraft also has a separate crew rest area.