BY PC Bureau
May 4, 2025 — An Air India flight en route from Delhi to Tel Aviv was diverted to Abu Dhabi on Sunday following a missile attack near Ben Gurion International Airport in the Israeli capital, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI). The incident, which occurred less than an hour before the flight’s scheduled landing, prompted authorities to reroute the aircraft for safety.
The flight, Air India AI139, operated by a Boeing 787, was in Jordanian airspace when the decision was made to divert to Abu Dhabi International Airport, data from flight tracking website Flightradar24.com showed. Sources quoted by PTI confirmed that the flight would return to Delhi after landing in Abu Dhabi.
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An airport official at Tel Aviv verified the diversion, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP), citing the security risks posed by the attack. Details of the missile strike, including its scale or perpetrators, remain unclear at this time.
The diversion underscores the challenges of operating in a region prone to geopolitical tensions. Air India has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident or its plans for resuming flights to Tel Aviv. Passengers are advised to contact the airline for updates on rebooking and compensation.
⚡️Air India Flight from Delhi-Tel Aviv Appears to Divert Away From Israel After Alleged Houthi Missile Hits Perimeter of Ben Gurion Airport pic.twitter.com/cFI9MGLsaL
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) May 4, 2025
The decision to reroute the aircraft to Abu Dhabi, a major regional hub, ensured passenger and crew safety while maintaining operational continuity. The choice of Abu Dhabi as the diversion destination was likely influenced by its proximity, capacity to handle a Boeing 787, and Air India’s operational agreements with the airport.
The return to Delhi suggests that the situation in Tel Aviv remained unstable or that Air India opted to suspend operations to Israel temporarily. This aligns with standard aviation protocols, which prioritize safety in conflict zones and often involve suspending flights to affected areas until the situation stabilizes.
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The missile attack near Ben Gurion International Airport underscores the volatile security environment in the region. While specific details of the attack are unavailable, such incidents are often linked to ongoing conflicts involving Israel and various state or non-state actors. The timing of the attack, close to the flight’s arrival, highlights the unpredictability of such events and the challenges they pose to civil aviation.
