Deserter Caught Attempting to Sneak Onto Flight at Ben Gurion Airport

A dramatic incident unfolded at Ben Gurion Airport's takeoff runway when a young Haredi man, defined as a deserter from the IDF, nearly succeeded in boarding a Wizz Air flight bound for Bratislava, Slovakia. The man, who had not enlisted in the military and is under an exit ban from Israel, attempted to sneak onto the plane departing from Terminal 1.

Flight crew initially announced his name, asking him to come to the front of the aircraft. When there was no response, security personnel began searching the passengers and found the young man, wearing a hoodie and feigning sleep. He was awakened and asked to accompany them.

The flight was delayed by approximately one hour due to additional security checks necessitated by the incident. Initial investigations suggest the deserter likely attached himself to another passenger at the border crossing to bypass security. While subsequent security layers quickly identified him, his initial success in reaching the aircraft caused embarrassment.

This event occurs amidst a recent trend where several young men, determined to travel to Uman and avoid military conscription, are apprehended daily at Ben Gurion Airport. The deserter possessed a valid passport and a ticket, indicating a planned attempt to leave the country.