Airspace safety has become an increasingly precarious concern across the Middle East, with commercial flights facing unpredictable threats from regional conflicts. In the latest incident, a civilian aircraft arriving in Tel Aviv was forced to alter its course due to a missile threat from Yemen.
Missiles intercepted, plane lands safely
An Ita Airways flight heading toward Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv was diverted shortly before landing on Thursday, after Israeli defense systems detected two incoming rockets launched from Yemen. The missiles were claimed by Houthi militants, continuing their pattern of long-range attacks linked to broader regional tensions.
Despite the threat, the situation was brought under control swiftly. The Israeli military intercepted the rockets, and the flight was able to land safely at 13:50 local time, according to the airline. Neither passengers nor crew sustained any injuries, and no damage to the aircraft was reported.
The incident occurred nearly two months after Ita Airways resumed commercial flights to Israel on February 1, following a temporary halt prompted by earlier conflict in Gaza.
Rising risks in regional aviation
As reported by Digi24, the Houthi rebels’ long-range missile activity has made airspace over Israel and the Red Sea increasingly unpredictable. Though the group primarily targets maritime and military assets, the proximity of this latest attack to civilian flight paths is raising alarms among aviation authorities and airlines.
While the aircraft completed its journey without incident, the scare serves as a reminder of the volatility surrounding Israeli airspace. Ongoing regional hostilities—especially involving Iranian-backed factions like the Houthis—continue to threaten civilian and commercial operations.
Aviation authorities are expected to reassess routing protocols, and airlines flying into Israel may impose new precautionary procedures, especially on approaches from the south or east. With regional tensions unlikely to subside soon, the threat to air traffic remains very real—despite the best efforts of missile defense systems on the ground.
