Israir passengers stranded in London after service vehicle damages plane

Passengers aboard an Israir flight from London Luton Airport to Ben Gurion Airport faced a night of uncertainty and discomfort after a service vehicle struck their aircraft during towing, forcing a cancellation.

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Following the accident and after its evacuation, the passengers were taken off the plane, transferred to the terminal and waited to receive their luggage.

The incident occurred Thursday evening as flight 116 was scheduled to depart. A pushback tug damaged the plane, leaving it grounded and unable to fly. Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft, which had been without air conditioning for over two hours, leading to distress, particularly among children.

Israir arranged for overnight accommodation and transportation for the stranded passengers. The airline also offered to reimburse food and travel expenses incurred privately, pending documentation. The airline stated that safety and security are its top priorities and apologized for the inconvenience, noting the event was beyond its control.

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Just had the most horrific experience I’ve ever had on an airplane. We were on @Israir_israel plan for over 2.5 hours with no AC. Doors closed most of the time. Children & adults panicking. An absolute NIGHTMARE.

This marks the third such incident at London Luton Airport involving Israir, with the airline noting that no investigations had been conducted into the previous occurrences. Passengers observing the Sabbath were particularly affected, remaining in England until Sunday.

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Israir apologizes to its passengers for the inconvenience caused to them as a result of an event beyond its control, and continues to accompany the passengers until they return to Israel. The safety and security of the passengers is the company's top priority.