Arkia Flight From Montenegro Canceled, Passengers Stranded in Albania After Border Delay

On August 23, approximately 50 Israeli passengers faced a complicated return home after their Arkia flight from Montenegro to Israel was canceled. The flight, originally scheduled for 8:00 PM and then delayed to 10:00 PM, was ultimately canceled due to operational disruptions. Passengers were bused to a nearby airport in Albania, but a border incident caused a significant delay for the last bus in the convoy.

Dvir Bar Noy, one of the stranded passengers, recounted that around 11:30 PM they were instructed to gather their belongings and board buses to Albania without clear communication or airline representatives present. The last bus was held up for about two and a half hours after a passenger argued with a border police officer, preventing the bus from crossing. After continuing for three more hours, the bus arrived at the Albanian airport only to find the plane had already departed for Israel, leaving dozens behind.

Bar Noy described the chaotic scene at the airport, where no one initially communicated with the stranded passengers. It was only at 6:00 AM that an Arkia representative arrived to assist them with hotel accommodations. Arkia explained that the flight was diverted to Albania because it could not land in Montenegro. The delay on the last bus was due to some passengers not cooperating with local border control demands, which the airline could not detail further.

Arkia emphasized that waiting longer for the delayed bus would have caused the flight crew to exceed their legal duty hours, preventing the flight from taking off altogether. The airline confirmed that a representative stayed with the stranded passengers, arranged hotel stays, and later provided a special flight to return them to Israel.

This incident highlights the challenges faced by passengers during sudden flight cancellations and cross-border transfers in the Balkans region.