El Al Cancels New York Flight to Avoid Landing After Sabbath Begins

El Al Airlines canceled flight LY8 from New York to Israel on Friday at the last minute after a delay threatened to push the plane's arrival past the start of the Sabbath. Passengers were already on board at JFK Airport awaiting departure when the airline decided to abort the flight to prevent violating Sabbath observance rules. The aircraft returned to the gate, passengers disembarked, and luggage was unloaded. Details about alternative flights or passenger arrangements have not yet been provided.

El Al, a Jewish-owned Israeli airline, strictly observes the Sabbath and is legally permitted to cancel flights to avoid operating during this period. Such cancellations exempt the airline from mandatory financial compensation under Israeli aviation law, although passengers retain other rights. These include the option to receive a refund or be rebooked on another flight, as well as entitlement to assistance such as food, drinks, hotel accommodation, and transportation if delays are prolonged.

Similar cancellations have occurred previously with Israeli airlines for Sabbath observance. In one legal case involving a canceled flight from Dubai during a security operation, the court largely rejected passenger compensation claims, recognizing the exceptional circumstances. Some ultra-Orthodox groups avoid flying Israeli carriers altogether for ideological reasons, opting for indirect routes through third countries despite longer travel times.