Turkey apparently refuses to help Israeli Boeing in emergency situation
On a direct flight from Warsaw to Tel Aviv, there is a medical emergency. The El Al aircraft of the Israeli company was forced to land in Antalya to attend to a passenger. However, it appears that Turkish officials refused to assist the crew at the Turkish airport.
According to Israeli media and the Aerotelegraph website, there was a medical emergency on a flight of the Israeli Airline El Al. The Boeing 737-800, which was on its way from Warsaw to Tel Aviv, made an unexpected landing in Antalya. Normally, airport staff in such cases take care of the stranded aircraft, evacuate the passengers, and refuel the plane. However, in Antalya, the airline was reportedly denied this support.
After takeoff from Warsaw, a passenger suddenly fell ill, according to El Al's statement. A doctor traveling with the passenger provided emergency care, but recommended an emergency landing. "Following consultation with the doctor treating the passenger on the plane, it was decided that the aircraft should land as soon as possible to get the passenger to a hospital," the airline's statement reads. Since the nearest airport is usually chosen in such cases, the plane landed around 3 pm in Antalya.
Upon arrival at the Turkish airport, the sick passenger was evacuated. Normally, the crew and other passengers would then be allowed to disembark to allow the plane to be refueled. However, Turkish officials reportedly delayed this decision, citing the need for a permit to refuel the plane. After approximately three hours in Antalya, the crew was reportedly informed that they would neither be allowed to evacuate nor to refuel.
Local sources from El Al described a different scenario regarding the fueling of the aircraft. "Local staff refused to fuel the plane, despite it being a medical emergency," read an official statement from El Al. The crew was forced to fly to Rhodes, which is 40 minutes away, to obtain the necessary fuel for the next leg of the journey.
Turkish diplomatic sources confirmed the landing in Antalya and the evacuation of the sick passenger. However, they described a different scenario regarding the requested fueling. According to the "Times of Israel," the fuel "was to be provided out of humanitarian reasons," but the captain unexpectedly decided to leave the airport without refueling. A permit for refueling was reportedly available from the Turkish side. It is currently unclear why this was not implemented in practice.
Since October 7 of the previous year, all direct flights between Israel and Turkey have been suspended. The background is the massacre committed by Hamas in Israel and the military clashes in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
For the passengers of flight LY5102, the incident meant a lengthy delay. After the nearly one-hour stopover on Rhodes, the plane was finally able to continue its flight to Tel Aviv.
- Despite the tensions between Israel and Turkey due to the Gaza Strip situation and the suspension of direct flights, the El Al aircraft had an unexpected landing in Antalya due to a medical emergency on board.
- Reports suggest that during the Israel war airplane incident in Antalya, Turkish officials initially refused to assist with refueling, citing bureaucratic procedures, causing further delay for the passengers.
- Amidst the Israel war and the ongoing tension with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the incident involving an Israel war airplane in Antalya highlights the complexities of international travel and diplomacy during times of conflict.
