Mauritius Denies Landing to Israeli Flight, Sparking Diplomatic Row

A flight organized by Spirit World Productions from Israel's Ben Gurion Airport to Mauritius was denied landing rights by Mauritian authorities on Saturday, leading to the cancellation of the trip and stranding passengers. The flight, operated by Air Seychelles, had already been approved months in advance, with all necessary international permits, including landing clearance from Mauritius, secured by the tour operator. Passengers had arrived at the airport and the plane was at the terminal when Mauritius unexpectedly revoked its permission without prior warning.

Israeli officials and representatives from Air Seychelles spent hours overnight attempting to resolve the situation, but Mauritian authorities maintained their refusal. The tour company, Spirit World Productions, described the incident as a decision of a political and diplomatic nature. The company's CEO, Tali Yativ, expressed deep regret and disappointment, stating that if the denial was politically motivated, it unfairly impacted Israeli passengers uninvolved in such matters. She assured that the company is working with Air Seychelles to find alternative arrangements for all affected travelers and is communicating with each client personally.

Spirit World Productions apologized for the last-minute disruption and confirmed they are continuing efforts to assist every passenger. The incident occurs amidst a gradual normalization of international air travel to Israel, though some carriers continue to postpone flights.