An El Al flight which diverted to Turkey on Sunday due to a medical emergency was reportedly refused requests to refuel at the airport in apparent violation of international aviation laws.
The incident comes at a time when flights between Israel and Turkey have been suspended since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, and as the Turkish government has emerged as one of Israel’s most vociferous critics in the world.
El Al flight 5102 from Warsaw to Tel Aviv was diverted to Antalya around 3pm local time after a passenger fell ill and required urgent medical attention.
After landing, the passenger was evacuated off the plane to a local hospital. For the next three hours, Turkish airport officials refused requests to refuel the flight as it sat on the tarmac in order to continue on to Tel Aviv.
