Georgian Nationals Detained on Flight to Israel Over Document Issues

A TUS Airways flight from Bologna, Italy, to Israel was delayed for approximately three hours after three Georgian citizens were found to have problematic travel documents. Two of the individuals reportedly boarded with forged Israeli passports, while the third had previously been banned from entering Israel. The Israeli Population and Immigration Authority demanded that the three passengers be removed from the aircraft. Following this, a decision was made to deplane all remaining passengers and unload their luggage for a secondary screening before the flight to Ben Gurion Airport could proceed.

The incident raises questions about how the three Georgian nationals managed to pass through check-in, border control, and security checks at Bologna Airport. One passenger recounted that after the three men were removed, everyone on board had to disembark, and passengers were not given reasons for the delay or the secondary screening.

This event occurred amidst heightened security measures, following an attempted hijacking of a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel five days prior, where a co-pilot attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. TUS Airways stated that passenger and crew safety is its top priority and that it cooperates with Israeli and international aviation authorities. The airline assured that there was no immediate threat to people during the Bologna incident.

Vacation Lines, the parent company of TUS Airways, confirmed that the three passengers were removed at the instruction of Israeli immigration authorities for further checks. Separately, on another TUS Airways flight just hours before this incident, a control system failure allowed a passenger to board without completing necessary border control procedures. The crew discovered the discrepancy in passenger numbers minutes before takeoff, located the woman, removed her from the plane, and handed her over to local police.