Turkish airport officials reject Israeli plane emergency refuel, departs to Greece

A fire engine driving past an El-Al airways Boeing 700-300 ER on the runway at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)

ALBAWABA - Turkish staff at Antalya Airport opposed to refuel an Israeli aircraft before it diverted off to Rhodes in Greece on Sunday, New York Post reports citing Israeli media, after an emergency landing at Antalya, Turkey.

The Israeli El Al flight LY5102 was in route from Warsaw, Poland heading to Tel Aviv before it had an emergency landing in Antalya, Turkey to refuel and evacuate a passenger with health complications. The flight captain later decided to divert to Rhodes, Greece for fuel.

The aircraft had been scheduled to touch down later on Sunday at Ben-Gurion Airport. Passengers were informed they would be staying in Turkey for a few hours and would not be permitted to leave the aircraft, according to Israeli media reports.

The airline has stated that the patient was evacuated but claims it was unable to fuel due to authorities’ refusal. However, a Turkish diplomatic source has stated, according to Times of Israel, that “fuel was to be provided to the plane due to humanitarian considerations, but as the relevant procedure was about to be completed, the captain decided to leave of his own accord.”

Turkey chose to stop operating in Israel in response to the appalling number of civilian deaths and the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza following Israeli aggression on the strip, stating in November that Turkish Airlines would cease flights to Tel Aviv until at least October 2024.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).