According to FlightRadar24 tracking data, the plane circled over the Mediterranean Sea for several minutes before receiving clearance to land.

El Al flight aborts Tel Aviv landing due to Iran missiles El Al flight aborts landing in Tel Aviv due to missile launches from Iran According to FlightRadar24 tracking data, the plane circled over the Mediterranean Sea for several minutes before receiving clearance to land. El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner takes off from Los Angeles international Airport on November 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (photo credit: AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) ByDR. ITAY GAL MARCH 7, 2026 05:03 An El Al rescue flight from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv encountered an operational emergency on Friday as it was on approach for landing, after the IDF detected missile launches from Iran towards Israeli territory. The flight, LY1006, departed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 7:15 pm on Thursday. The long-haul flight, part of the repatriation missions to bring Israelis back from abroad, was scheduled to land at Ben-Gurion Airport at 8:06 am on Friday. As the aircraft approached the Israeli coastline, an alert was issued regarding missile launches from Iran towards Israel. At that moment, the aircraft was already over the Mediterranean, just moments away from its final approach to Tel Aviv. In response to the alert, the flight was instructed by air traffic controllers at Ben-Gurion Airport to enter a holding pattern over the Mediterranean. Tracking maps showed the aircraft flying in circles off of Israel’s coastline, rather than continuing straight-in to land. The delay lasted approximately twenty minutes, during which the crew awaited confirmation to proceed with their approach to landing. Once the security situation cleared and the risk around Tel Aviv subsided, the green light was given for the final approach. The aircraft eventually landed safely at Ben-Gurion Airport at 8:50 am, about 44 minutes after its scheduled landing time. Iran war disrupts Israeli civil aviation Incidents like these have become part of the complex reality of civil aviation in Israel since the outbreak of hostilities with Iran. The missile launches towards the country, which has closed its airspace except for one rescue flight per hour, require halting air traffic when aircraft are at low altitudes similar to the trajectory of missiles. When a launch is detected or a security alert is issued, Israeli aviation authorities and air traffic controllers act quickly to move aircraft away from the danger zone. At times, this means directing aircraft to enter a holding pattern over the Mediterranean, flying in circles until the danger passes, or, in exceptional cases, diverting to a different destination. This challenge is especially significant for long-haul flights coming from the United States and other distant locations. Such flights are extremely long, with some exceeding 14 hours, and are carefully planned with fuel reserves. Any delay in landing forces air crews and flight controllers to make real-time adjustments to maintain safety margins and properly manage fuel. During this tense period, flights to Israel require close coordination between several agencies. Air traffic controllers, the IAF, the IDF Home Front Command, and airlines work together to ensure the safest possible arrival in Israel under the ongoing Iranian missile threat.