Israeli security forces at the scene after a rocket fired from Yemen hit Ben Gurion Airport, 4 May 2025
After a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis from Yemen hit Ben Gurion International Airport on 4 May, dozens of international airlines announced the temporary cancellation of flights to Israel. The reason was serious malfunctions in the missile defence systems of Israel and the United States, which failed to intercept the threat. This was reported by The Jerusalem Post.
Among those who suspended flights for a day are Lufthansa Group (along with Swiss, Brussels Airlines and other units), United Airlines, Delta, Air France and its low-cost carrier Transavia, Air Canada, British Airways, Japan’s Nippon Airways and Air Europa from Spain.
This is considered one of the most serious failures in the history of Israel’s missile defence system. The strike on the country’s main air hub not only caused injuries, but also triggered an “empty sky effect”, including massive carrier cancellations and a likely increase in domestic flight prices.
The IDF, together with American experts, has already launched an investigation into the double failure of the security system that allowed the missile to reach Yemen without being detected. Meanwhile, shares of the Israeli carrier El Al rose by more than 5% after the incident.
