TEL AVIV — An unexpected industrial strike at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) forced commercial flights to turn back mid-air over Turkish airspace.
Among the affected services were Air France Flight AF966 and Lufthansa Flight LH686, both of which were forced to abandon their descents toward Tel Aviv following the sudden suspension of ground and landing operations.
The disruption stemmed from an unannounced labor action by workers at Israel’s primary international gateway. Operations at the airport came to a complete standstill, leaving air traffic controllers with no choice but to hold or divert incoming international flights. The strike was officially resolved at 15:00 local time, but the brief operational freeze was enough to scramble airline schedules across Europe.
Long Haul Back to Paris
Air France Flight AF966, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER (registration F-GSQB), had departed Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) at 09:30 CEST. Roughly three hours into the journey—while cruising over Turkish airspace—the flight crew was notified of the ground shutdown in Tel Aviv.
Rather than holding in the region or seeking a regional diversion airport, the pilots executed a U-turn over Turkey and initiated the multi-hour return journey all the way back to Paris.
Fuel Constraints Force Lufthansa Diversion
Simultaneously, Lufthansa Flight LH686, operated by an Airbus A321neo (registration D-AIEP), encountered the same operational obstacle. Having taken off from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) at 10:15 CEST, the narrow-body aircraft was also over Turkey when the news broke.
LH686 turned around, with the crew initially planning to return to Munich (MUC). However, due to fuel management considerations on the longer return flight path, the aircraft diverted to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) for a safe landing.
While Ben Gurion Airport has since reopened and resumed normal ground operations following the 15:00 local time end to the strike, airlines are working through the logistical aftermath. Both Air France and Lufthansa are working to clear passenger backlogs and reschedule affected aircraft.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says those who “interfere” with operations at Ben-Gurion Airport will be sent home (fired).
