An Arkia Airlines flight from Eilat made a dramatic and successful landing at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, even as the Iron Dome missile defense system engaged in intercepting a barrage of rockets fired by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip.
This remarkable event, reported by The Times of Israel, was captured on video and showcases the resilience and precision of Israel's defense capabilities.
The flight's approach and landing coincided with an intense missile attack. Passengers aboard the plane witnessed the effectiveness of the Iron Dome system, which is crucial for Israel's defense against rocket attacks.
The system's radar tracks incoming rockets and artillery fire, intercepting those projected to hit populated areas. Israel claims that the Iron Dome has been about 90% effective over the past 12 years.
Despite the inherent risks involved in landing during such an attack, retired Air Force commander Eitan Ben Eliyahu, in an interview with Channel 12 news, explained that commercial airplanes, unlike fighter jets, cannot swiftly evade missiles.
Pilots may increase engine power and ascend to a higher altitude for a safer landing, either on a different runway or at an alternate airport if fuel allows.
The missile attack extended beyond the immediate vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport, targeting areas including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, and Bat Yam. Remarkably, no casualties were reported in these regions.
In response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, major airlines have canceled numerous flights to and from Tel Aviv since the attacks that began on October 7, when Hamas fired 3,500 rockets at Israel, and the ensuing war in Gaza.
However, despite these security challenges, commercial internal air links with Eilat, Israel's second international airport and a popular tourist destination on the Red Sea, have not been halted.
