Sunday, August 25, 2024 The temporary closures of Israel’s Ben Gurion and Beirut Airports led to widespread travel chaos, with over 50 flights canceled and delayed as both airports struggled to resume normal operations. The disruptions were triggered by escalating regional tensions, leaving thousands of travelers in uncertainty as airlines and airports worked to restore order. Travelers faced initial chaos and ongoing uncertainty at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport early Sunday morning after a preemptive Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strike on Hezbollah launchers led to a temporary suspension of all airport activities.
The strike, intended to neutralize threats targeting central Israel, resulted in a ripple effect of travel disruptions that left thousands of passengers in a state of confusion. The airport, one of the busiest in the region, halted operations at 5:20 a.m.
, causing incoming flights to be diverted and outbound travel to be temporarily paused. The decision by the Israel Airports Authority was a direct response to the potential danger posed by Hezbollah’s rocket launchers. By the time the airport resumed operations at 7 a.
m., a total of 26 flights had been canceled and 55 flights delayed as per Flightaware, including those operated by major airlines such as Etihad Airways, Blue Bird Airways, Tus Airways, Arkia Israeli Airlines, Israir Airlines and Universal Air Charter. In addition to the chaos at Ben Gurion, Beirut International Airport also faced sig.