The El Al flight after landing safely.
Photo: Airport Authority
El Al flight makes emergency landing after engine failure
Engine failure on flight to Toronto causes pilot to turn around for emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport; one treated for shock.
A state of emergency was declared at Ben Gurion International Airport overnight between Saturday and Sunday when a 767 El Al aircraft experience engine failure just 30 minutes into its flight to Toronto, Canada. Flight LY029 was landed safely back in Israel with all of its 194 passengers accounted for.
"I was sitting on the right side of the plane next to the wing, and suddenly on the left, we heard two booms," said Shira Arbel, a passenger and owner of a fashion blog who was on her way to Fashion Week in New York.
The El Al flight after landing. (Photo: Airport Authority)
"The stewards started running around the plane and we immediately understood that there was a problem. People starting panicking and the flight crew tried to calm everyone down," said Arbel.
"They told us to sit down and fasten our seat belts. A few minutes later the captain announced that there was a problem with the plane's left engine and that we were returning for an emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport," she continued. "The landing was smooth and all the passengers applauded."
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An emergency was announced at the airport and dozens of mobile care units and Magen David Adom ambulances arrived on the scene to await the airplane. Luckily, there was no need for them, and Arbel said that one of the passengers was treated for shock by Magen David Adom crews.
Emergency crews wait for the plane's landing. (Photo: Baruch Weinstock)
The plane landed safely on the runway and technicians began checking the aircraft to determine what caused the engine to fail.
Rami Nir, Head of Ground Operations at Ben Gurion Airport, said after the landing that, "The pilot of the plane to Toronto announced the failure to the control tower and requested to return for an emergency landing. Emergency teams from the Airport Authority and other rescue teams arrived at the scene and the plane landed safely."
The El Al flight moments after safely landing. (Photo: Airport Authority)
"The passengers were taken to the terminal where they were treated by the airline," said Nir.
El Al added that, "The company sees flight safety as a top priority and doesn't compromise on the subject in minor or serious cases."
A similar case occurred last July when a Delta Airlines aircraft took off from Ben Gurion for New York and was forced to fly in circles off of Israel's coast for an hour-and-a-half to burn fuel before it landed safely back at the airport.
