FAA Issues NOTAM Prohibiting U.S. Carriers From Flying To And From Tel Aviv, Israel

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FAA Issues NOTAM Prohibiting U.S. Carriers From Flying To And From Tel Aviv, Israel

July 22, 2014 - Several major U.S. airlines have reported that they have suspending flights to Israel as a result of a rocket landing in the city of Yehud near Ben-Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel. The airport is Isreal's main international airport.

The decision came after Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has prohibited U.S. carriers flying to or from Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport.

This move comes after the shoot down of a Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 777, Flight 17, by a surface-to-air missile in East Ukraine by Pro-Russian Separatists which resulted in the death of 298 passengers and flight crew.

At 12:15 PM today the FAA issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) informing U.S. airlines that they are prohibited from flying to or from Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport for a period of up to 24 hours.

The notice was issued in response to a rocket strike which landed approximately one mile from Ben Gurion International Airport on the morning of July 22, 2014. The NOTAM applies only to U.S. operators, and has no authority over foreign airlines operating to or from the airport.

The FAA immediately notified U.S. carriers when the agency learned of the rocket strike and informed them that the agency was finalizing a NOTAM. A Delta Boeing 747, Flight 468, out of New York with 273 passengers and a crew of 17 was enroute to Tel Aviv today when the pilots learned of the FAA restriction. Flight 468 was over the Mediterranean Sea when it was rerouted to Paris.

United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon said today too many Israeli and Palestinian mothers are “burying their children” and urges both sides to “stop fighting and start talking.” The Secretary also added that he urges “Israel to show maximum restraint.” In response, Netanyahu responded by comparing Hamas to Islamist extremist groups such as Isis, Hezbollah and Boko Haram. "In the face of such terror, Israel has no option but to defend itself... We will do what we have to do to defend ourselves."

The text of the NOTAM reads - !FDC 4/3630 ZZZ PART 1 OF 2 SECURITY ISRAEL POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION—ISRAEL AIRSPACE DUE TO THE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION CREATED BY THE ARMED CONFLICT IN ISRAEL AND GAZA, ALL FLIGHT OPERATIONS TO/FROM BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LLBG) BY U.S. OPERATORS ARE PROHIBITED UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED. A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS OR COMMERCIAL OPERATORS, ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER, AND ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT WHERE THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER. B. PERMITTED OPERATIONS. THIS NOTAM DOES NOT PROHIBIT PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A FROM CONDUCTING FLIGHT OPERATIONS WITHIN THE TERRITORY AND AIRSPACE OF ISRAEL WHEN SUCH OPERATIONS ARE AUTHORIZED EITHER BY ANOTHER AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE FAA OR BY AN EXEMPTION ISSUED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR. 1407221615-1407231615EST END PART 1 OF 2.

!FDC 4/3630 ZZZ PART 2 OF 2 SECURITY OPERATORS SHOULD CALL THE DOMESTIC EVENTS NETWORK (DEN) AT 202-493-5107 FOR AUTHORIZATION. C. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE DECISION AND ACTION FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF AN AIRCRAFT MAY DEVIATE FROM THIS NOTAM TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THAT EMERGENCY. THIS NOTAM WILL BE UPDATED WITHIN 24 HOURS, OPERATORS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR U.S.