Arkia Flight from Baku Diverted to Larnaca Due to Slot Restrictions
An Arkia flight from Baku to Ben Gurion Airport was diverted to Larnaca due to scheduling changes ahead of Yom Kippur, leaving angry passengers stranded on the plane for hours.
Passengers on an Arkia flight from Baku to Ben Gurion Airport found their journey interrupted when the plane landed in Larnaca, Cyprus, ahead of Yom Kippur. Following the landing, passengers were forced to remain inside the aircraft for about an hour and a half, waiting for their designated landing slot in Israel, sparking frustration and anger among travelers.
According to Arkia, a technical malfunction was discovered in one of the company's aircraft on the eve of Yom Kippur, requiring schedule adjustments. The airline requested permission to land the flight from Baku earlier than scheduled, but stated that the Israel Airports Authority denied the request, forcing the plane to divert to Larnaca.
Passengers described a tense atmosphere inside the cabin, with many children on board. "Many people are frustrated, some are really angry, and it's not an easy situation, especially with quite a few children," one of the passengers told Mako. Arkia stated that the aircraft would resume its flight to Ben Gurion Airport as soon as its original landing slot arrived.
