Houthi Missile Strike Near Ben Gurion Airport Forces Air India and Others to Suspend Tel Aviv Flights

A missile strike launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday triggered immediate disruptions in air travel, forcing an Air India flight en route to Tel Aviv to divert and leading to the suspension of multiple international flight operations to Israel’s primary international gateway.

Air India flight AI139, which departed from Delhi for Tel Aviv, was diverted to Abu Dhabi after reports emerged of a missile impact near the airport. The incident occurred less than an hour before the Boeing 787 was scheduled to land. Data from flight tracking service Flightradar24.com confirmed the diversion took place while the aircraft was in Jordanian airspace. The flight landed safely in Abu Dhabi and, according to sources, will return to Delhi.

In a statement, Air India said, “Flight AI139 from Delhi to Tel Aviv of 4 May 2025 was diverted to Abu Dhabi after an incident at Ben Gurion Airport this morning. The flight has landed normally in Abu Dhabi and will soon return to Delhi.” The airline added, “Consequently, our operations to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended with immediate effect till 6 May 2025, to ensure the safety of our customers and staff.”

The missile strike caused widespread panic at the airport, where a plume of smoke was seen rising near Terminal 3. Israeli authorities said the missile landed near a road adjacent to the terminal’s parking lot. Senior Israeli police commander Yair Hetzroni showed the press a large crater at the site of the impact, describing it as “tens of metres wide and deep.” Despite the force of the explosion, no significant structural damage to airport facilities was reported.

According to emergency services, at least four people were injured directly by the blast, while two more sustained injuries while trying to reach a shelter. Air traffic at Ben Gurion Airport was temporarily halted but resumed shortly after security assessments.

In the immediate aftermath, several other international airlines followed suit in suspending flights to Tel Aviv. These included Germany’s Lufthansa, the United States’ Delta Air Lines, Swiss International Air, and Cyprus-based TUS Airways. Additionally, several inbound flights to New York-area airports, including Newark and JFK, experienced delays of up to 90 minutes.

The Houthi attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region, as Israel reportedly prepares to expand its military operations in Gaza. The offensive resumed in March after a brief two-month truce, prompting Houthi leaders to escalate their threats of direct retaliation against Israeli targets.

Responding to the strike, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned, “Whoever harms us will be harmed sevenfold.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with senior security and defence officials to discuss potential military responses.

Sunday’s missile strike marks a significant escalation in the Houthis’ campaign against Israel and underscores growing risks to civil aviation in the region. With global carriers reassessing the safety of their operations, the situation highlights how Middle East tensions continue to reverberate far beyond the immediate conflict zones.

IT.