Dozens of flights departing Israel were hit with significant delays Friday morning as a major disruption in baggage handling caused chaos at Ben Gurion Airport, with some passengers reporting that they had been sitting aboard aircraft for hours waiting for their luggage to be loaded.

According to a report by Ynet, unusually heavy congestion was reported throughout the airport, particularly in baggage-handling areas, as suitcases piled up and departing flights were unable to leave on schedule.

It was not immediately clear whether the disruption was the result of an unofficial strike by ground crews or a breakdown caused by the massive August travel rush.

“Passengers are going through insane lines at baggage drop-off,” one traveler said. “It’s unclear whether there’s really a collapse because of the crowds, or whether there’s a strike. It’s a disgrace.”

Israir Flight 249 to Salzburg had been scheduled to depart at 6:30 a.m., but a passenger aboard the aircraft said the flight remained delayed while luggage sat outside for more than two hours waiting to be loaded.

Passengers aboard an Arkia flight reported a similar situation, with the aircraft remaining parked at the gate without their baggage. One passenger said a flight attendant told travelers that the ground crews responsible for handling the luggage had gone on strike.

“We’ve been stuck for two hours already on an Arkia plane, the plane is still parked without luggage,” the passenger said. “We don’t know when we’ll take off, and right now we’re waiting inside the plane. It’s absolutely outrageous, at the height of August, with planes full of children.”

Airport authorities had not immediately clarified whether the delays were being caused by labor action or exceptionally heavy passenger volume.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)