A Delta Air Lines aircraft arriving from New York was evacuated and searched at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport on the morning of Tuesday 13 October after an anonymous report that a "suspicious" device was on board1. Passengers left the aircraft quickly after landing and it was moved to a remote area of the airport for checks1. Nothing was found. "The incident has ended with no unusual findings. Operations have returned to normal," an Israel Airports Authority spokesperson told Ynet2. The airport later announced a full return to normal operations3.

What happened

The aircraft was operating Delta Flight 234 from New York JFK to Tel Aviv4. It landed at around 8:30 a.m. local time, according to the New York Post5. The Jerusalem Post reported that the anonymous report claimed a bomb was located in the aircraft's cargo hold, and that the aircraft was moved away from the terminal to minimise any potential danger3. Police and airport security searched the aircraft, Haaretz reported6. "The aircraft was thoroughly inspected by Ben Gurion Airport security personnel," the Israel Airports Authority said in a statement quoted by The Times of Israel1. According to AeroTime, the aircraft was an Airbus A330neo registered N423DX4. The number of passengers and crew on board has not been made public5.

Delta confirmed the incident. "Out of an abundance of caution, Delta Flight 234 JFK-TLV was deplaned upon landing and inspected by local authorities to evaluate a potential security issue. No credible threat was found, and customers and crew were transported safely to the terminal," the airline told AeroTime4. Delta also apologised to customers for the inconvenience47.

A likely hoax, handled as a real threat

The authorities suspected a hoax from early on. CTech reported that preliminary assessments suggested the threat may be a hoax, but that in light of recent events, including the flydubai incident, the authorities decided to declare an emergency and search the aircraft thoroughly8. Channel 12, as reported by Israel National News, said security officials believed the report was a hoax but took precautionary measures in line with protocol9. The Media Line likewise reported indications during the response that the threat could be a hoax10. No details have been released about who made the report7.

A false threat is not a harmless prank in aviation terms. ICAO Annex 17, the international standard on aviation security, lists the communication of false information that jeopardises the safety of an aircraft in flight or on the ground, its passengers, crew or ground personnel as an act of unlawful interference, alongside the unlawful seizure of an aircraft11. Some airports designate part of the apron for aircraft subject to unlawful interference, at a safe distance from critical facilities, other aircraft and passenger terminals, and use it for example when there is a suspected bomb threat11. That matches what happened at Ben Gurion: the aircraft was taken to a remote area while it was checked1.

What this means for crews flying to Israel

Delta resumed its daily nonstop service between New York JFK and Tel Aviv on 6 September, using the Airbus A330-900neo, after what it called "a thorough review of the evolving security environment in the region"12. The airline said it would "continue to monitor the situation closely in coordination with aviation authorities and government agencies"12. According to CTech, the route had been suspended for more than six months after the outbreak of the war with Iran8.

The bomb threat came a day after an Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane was turned away from Israel because its pilot is an Indonesian citizen1. Both followed flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September, on which the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain; the aircraft landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia10. Since then, Israel has reportedly required foreign airlines to ensure that no crew member holds the citizenship of a country without diplomatic relations with Israel, including as a second nationality, according to guidelines reported by the public broadcaster Kan and cited by Haaretz13. United Airlines and Air France have reportedly barred citizens of dozens of such countries from crews on their Israel flights; Haaretz cites a report that United's restrictions cover nationals of 29 countries, while the French site Mediapart listed 3113. For crews, that means nationality, not only qualifications, can now decide who is rostered on a flight to Tel Aviv. We covered those rules in our article on the Ethiopian cargo flight that was turned back.

For pilots and cabin crew on these routes, the Delta case shows how a single anonymous report can turn a normal arrival into an emergency response: passengers and crew are taken off, the aircraft is moved away from the terminal, and the authorities search it before normal operations resume43. Here, Delta said customers and crew were transported safely to the terminal4.

What is not yet known

The Israeli authorities have not said who made the report, how it was received or whether anyone is being investigated for it. It is also not known how many passengers were on board or whether the return flight to New York was delayed.

Frequently asked questions

Was a bomb found on the Delta flight?

No. The Israel Airports Authority said the incident ended with no unusual findings, and Delta said no credible threat was found24.

Is a hoax bomb threat against an aircraft treated as a security offence?

Under ICAO Annex 17, communicating false information that jeopardises the safety of an aircraft, its passengers or crew is listed as an act of unlawful interference11.