US Military Freezes Refueling Plane Removal at Ben Gurion Airport Amid Escalation

The US military has decided to halt the removal of American refueling aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion Airport, a move that could disrupt thousands of flights and affect tens of thousands of passengers. This decision was revealed on July 14, 2026, by Sharon Kadmi, CEO of the Israel Airports Authority, who sent an urgent letter to the Israeli Ministry of Transportation warning of severe operational consequences.

Kadmi's letter highlights that instead of reducing the number of refueling planes, four additional aircraft have been deployed, exacerbating the situation. He warned that if the agreed removal plan is not resumed immediately, starting July 23, a significant shortage of parking spaces for passenger planes will occur. This shortage is expected to force the cancellation of approximately 10 flights daily, potentially leading to the cancellation of around 50,000 flight tickets by the end of July.

The Israel Airports Authority is urgently requesting immediate action to prevent these heavy operational and public impacts. The freeze on removing the US military refueling planes comes amid a broader regional escalation, raising concerns about the stability of air traffic operations at Israel's main international airport.