Senior officials at Ben Gurion Airport are recommending the immediate closure of Israeli airspace, Channel 13 reported Sunday — a move that could cut off one of the last remaining options for the thousands of Americans still stranded in Israel and desperately trying to reach their families before Pesach.

The report comes after Iranian missiles scored direct hits in three Israeli cities in 24 hours.

According to the report, a significant and potentially heated discussion is expected to take place this evening at Ben Gurion Airport, with participation from senior aviation and security officials. The meeting will bring together senior figures from Israel’s operations and security sectors, including Airports Authority chairman Shmuel Zakay and the Director-General of the Israel Airports Authority, along with representatives from the Transportation Ministry and the police.

At the center of the discussion is a proposal by professional officials to close the airport entirely and operate only essential flights.

Currently, around 10,000 passengers pass through the airport each day, but aviation officials are pushing for a complete shutdown of Israeli airspace, rather than the limited operating format currently in place.

Last week, Channel 13 reported that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) appealed to Minister Regev to use her authority to declare the aviation situation in Israel a state of emergency. Airlines are seeking such a declaration so they will not be required to bear the full cost of compensating Israeli passengers stranded abroad due to the war.

Under normal conditions, airlines are obligated to cover hotel accommodations when flights are canceled and to arrange alternative flights for passengers.

However, a legislative amendment approved last May allows the transportation minister to declare a special aviation status. In such a case, airlines are required to cover only two days of expenses and are not obligated to provide alternative flights—only refunds for canceled tickets.

With Pesach just a week and a half away, thousands of American travelers remain in Israel, many of them racing against the clock to secure seats on any available flight back to the United States.  Should the closure be implemented, it would effectively seal off one of the few remaining options for those still hoping to get out.

Many major international carriers have already suspended service to Israel since the outbreak of war, leaving El Al shouldering the bulk of passenger traffic in and out of the country, though even its flights have been beset by cancelations, chaos, and limited seating.

No timeline for a final decision has been announced.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)