An Air India flight traveling from Delhi to Tel Aviv, Flight AI139, was diverted to Abu Dhabi on Sunday following a missile strike in the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The Boeing 787 aircraft was approximately one hour away from its scheduled landing when the incident occurred.

According to a statement from Air India, as quoted by news agency PTI, the flight landed safely in Abu Dhabi and will subsequently return to Delhi. "Air India flight AI139 from Delhi to Tel Aviv of 4 May 2025 was diverted to Abu Dhabi after an incident at Ben Gurion airport this morning," the airline stated. "The flight has landed normally in Abu Dhabi and will soon return to Delhi."

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24.com indicated that the decision to divert the aircraft was made while it was traversing Jordanian airspace.

Later, Air India announced the immediate suspension of all flights to and from Tel Aviv until May 6, 2025, citing the need to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. In a post on X, the airline stated, "Consequent to developments in Tel Aviv this morning, our operations to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended with immediate effect till 6th May 2025, to ensure the safety of our customers and staff."

Air India also assured customers with valid tickets for flights between May 4th and 6th that they would be offered a one-time waiver on rescheduling or full refunds for cancellations, providing helpline numbers for further assistance.

"We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains top priority," the airline emphasized.

Following Air India's announcement, Lufthansa Airlines also declared a suspension of all its flights to Tel Aviv until May 6th due to the airport attack.

The disruptions followed a temporary suspension of all air traffic at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport after a missile, reportedly launched from Yemen, impacted within the airport's perimeter. The missile, allegedly fired by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, landed near Terminal 3's parking area, creating a significant crater less than a kilometre from the tarmac. While six people were reported injured, no damage was inflicted on the terminal buildings or runways.

The Israeli military stated that multiple interception attempts were made, but it remained unclear whether the impact was caused by the missile itself or an interceptor. The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting that they launched a hypersonic ballistic missile in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The explosion triggered panic at the airport, leading to passengers being rushed to bunkers and a temporary halt in flight operations. Operations at the airport reportedly resumed shortly after the incident.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed a forceful retaliation in response to the attack. The Houthis have intensified their missile and drone attacks since the Gaza war began, with a brief pause during a recent ceasefire. The resumption of attacks in March prompted increased US airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen.