Tata Group-owned airline Air India on Sunday announced the suspension of its flight service to Tel Aviv city till May 6 after Houthi rebels fired a missile that landed close to the main terminal in Ben Gurion airport in Israel.
According to reports, a flight of the Indian company-owned airline was diverted to Abu Dhabi following the missile strike.
The flight was on its way from Delhi to Tel Aviv.
Announcing the suspension of flight operations, Air India wrote on X: “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.”
“Our colleagues on ground are assisting customers and helping them with alternative arrangements. Customers booked on our flights with valid tickets between 4th and 6th May 2025 will be offered a one-time waiver on rescheduling or full refunds for cancellation,” the airlines said.
Tel Aviv Strike
At least six people were injured after the Houthi group fired a ballistic missile that struck close to the main terminal in the airport on Sunday.
The Israeli military said it made several attempts to intercept the missile fired from Yemen but failed to shoot down the projectile in the end.
“An impact was identified in the area of Ben Gurion Airport,” it was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.
The Israeli Air Force’s aerial defence array is investigating the failure, the newspaper reported.
The wounded people were shifted to hospital for treatment.
Several videos have now gone viral showing the exact moment when the missile hit Israel.
After halting its operation for an hour following the attack, the Ben Gurion Airport reopened its airspace later.
Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for the launch, the group’s military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised statement, as quoted by The Times of Israel.
The Houthi, a rebel group backed by Iran and based in Yemen, has often launched missile attacks at Israel to show solidarity with Gaza.
However, the missiles have found it tough to hit the Israeli landmass by passing through the strong defence system.
