Israel closed its airspace Saturday as the attack from Iran began, leaving thousands of Israelis stranded overseas with no immediate way to return home.
Many travelers are now searching for alternative routes back, primarily through neighboring Jordan.
Ben-Gurion Airport during the attack
(Video: Ido Erez)
Oren Moshe and his wife, both in their 50s, flew to Athens on Tuesday for a vacation and were scheduled to land in Israel on Saturday morning, just as the attack began.
“We had a flight that was supposed to leave around 10 a.m.,” Moshe told ynet. “We arrived at the airport, and at 8 a.m. the sirens started. They asked us to finish with our passports quickly, and we were optimistic that maybe that meant the flight would still depart. We went through security and waited, and then they told us the flight was canceled.”
Moshe said they had anticipated the possibility of an attack.
“We took into account that there could be an attack, so we weren’t surprised,” he said. “We just hoped it would start after we got back.”
The couple returned to Athens and booked another night at a hotel. They are now exploring ways to reach Israel by land, potentially via Jordan.
“We’re a bit concerned about the situation there and prefer to reach Aqaba, which is close to Eilat,” Moshe said. “But flights there go through Cairo, and that also worries us, so we’re checking options. I’m sure this won’t end in a day or two. In my opinion, it will take at least a week, if not more.”
Eden, 26, from northern Israel, is also in Greece. She landed in Athens on a Wizz Air flight the day before the attack.
“I was at the hotel when I got the news, during a phone call,” she said. “I called to check on my family after hearing that the combined strike had begun. My father told me the skies were completely closed and that there were no takeoffs or landings.”
She is scheduled to return next Saturday but has not yet received a direct notification from the airline. Wizz Air has announced the cancellation of all flights to Tel Aviv through March 7 for now.
“I hope it ends quickly and that I won’t be stuck here for long,” she said.
Yahav, 26, from northern Israel, is stranded in Florence, Italy.
“I woke up to all the frantic reports from home,” he said. “I was supposed to return on March 4 and already got a message from Wizz that my flight was canceled. I have no idea how I’m getting back. I understand there are no flights at all, not even from Israeli airlines.”
Hagar Oliver said she and her fiancé traveled to Rome for a short vacation between finishing their studies and starting an internship. The couple became engaged during the trip and had planned to return to Israel on an El Al flight Saturday.
“We were supposed to go home and celebrate with family and friends,” she said. “But because of the situation, the flight was canceled due to the closure of Israel’s airspace. We’re currently stuck in Rome, waiting for flights to resume.”
Images from Ben Gurion Airport showed protected areas opened for passengers as the conflict unfolded. U.S. refueling aircraft were also seen on the ground at the airport earlier in the day.
It remains unclear when Israel’s airspace will reopen.