Filenews 1 August 2024
A Lufthansa flight from Munich to Tel Aviv has landed in Larnaca, Cyprus, according to Israeli media.
"The crew was not prepared to fly to Israel," Israel's Channel 12 reported.
According to the report, the airline first informed passengers that the plane would land in Cyprus for "technical reasons" and then it would be decided whether the flight would continue to Tel Aviv.
However, after some time on the ground, it was announced that the aircraft would return to Germany.
The passengers were told they could disembark in Cyprus if they wished, but their luggage would remain on board and be transported back to Germany, according to the same reports.
The airline told Channel 12 that the plane landed in Cyprus as part of "precautionary safety measures".
They suspend flights to Israel
Meanwhile, airlines suspended flights to Israel amid escalating tensions in the region following deadly strikes in Beirut and Tehran.
United Airlines, Delta Airlines and British Airways have suspended or will suspend flights, according to Israeli media.
All affected planes will stop in Larnaca and will not continue to Tel Aviv. The cancellations follow the high-profile assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran, and the targeted assassination of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut by the IDF.
These incidents have significantly increased regional tensions, prompting airlines to take action amid a potential retaliatory strike by Iran and its proxies in the region. Flights to Beirut were also suspended as they awaited Israel's attack on Lebanon. Attack carried out.
