Ben Gurion Airport Declares Crisis Amid Record Passenger Load and Check-In Halt

Ben Gurion Airport experienced significant operational chaos on Thursday as its operations management declared a "crisis event" due to multiple logistical challenges. The difficulties included problems with aircraft unloading and loading, as well as a shortage of parking stands for planes. These issues coincided with one of the busiest days of the year at the airport, which expected around 100,000 passengers to pass through.

In response to the mounting problems, the airport temporarily halted the check-in process following an internal notification to staff. Preliminary information suggests the disruption may stem from a strike by sorting teams, although no official confirmation regarding the strike's scope or duration has been provided. The crisis declaration reflects the severity of the situation as the airport struggles to manage the heavy passenger flow alongside operational constraints.

Airport management described the situation as a "crisis event," and operations are currently ongoing under these difficult conditions. There has been no update yet on when check-in services will fully resume or how the disruptions will affect passengers arriving in the coming hours.