El Al Flight Forced to Land in Turkey, Govt Refused to Let Plane Refuel

TURKEY (VINnews) — An El Al plane heading to Israel from Poland was forced to make an emergency landing in unfriendly Turkey, and the government reportedly refused to allow the plane to refuel, thus effectively leaving it stranded.

According to a report on Channel 12, the flight took off from Warsaw and made an emergency landing in Antalya after a passenger fell ill and needed urgent medical treatment.

The report says Turkish authorities delayed the plane to continue its flight to Israel by refusing to refuel it. According to Arutz Sheva, the crew decided to take off for Israel without refueling, although VIN has not verified that report.

After landing, passengers were told that they would likely spend several hours on the ground, without permission to leave the plane.

According to Arutz Sheva, El Al issued this statement: “El Al flight LY5102 from Warsaw to Tel Aviv made an unexpected landing at the airport in Antalya, following a medical incident of one of the passengers. After consulting with the doctor who treated the passenger on the plane, it was decided that the plane should land immediately, in order to evacuate the passenger to the hospital as soon as possible.”

It is not clear whether the ailing passenger remained in Turkey.

All direct flights between Israel and Turkey have been canceled since the war in Gaza began, and President Erdogan is viciously anti-Israel.

In May, Ankara announced it would stop all exports and imports to and from Israel.

This story is still developing, check back for updates.