Arkia Flight Diverted to Cyprus After Landing Permit Denied

An Arkia Airlines flight from Baku, Azerbaijan to Tel Aviv was unexpectedly diverted to Larnaca, Cyprus, on Tuesday. The diversion occurred because the Israel Airports Authority denied the airline's request for an earlier landing slot at Ben Gurion Airport. The flight, IZ322, had been scheduled to land in Tel Aviv but was rerouted to Cyprus due to the denied request and a technical issue with one of the airline's aircraft that emerged on the eve of Yom Kippur, necessitating schedule adjustments.

Passengers aboard the flight were forced to wait on the tarmac in Larnaca for approximately 45 minutes. This delay was until the originally approved landing time in Israel. One passenger described the situation as very frustrating and angering, particularly for the many children on board, with some passengers shouting due to accumulated frustration.

Arkia confirmed the technical issue required schedule changes. The airline stated that the flight had to land in Larnaca because the Israel Airports Authority did not permit an earlier landing slot in Israel. The aircraft waited in Larnaca until its original slot time before proceeding to Ben Gurion Airport.