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An EL AL flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) departed without 140 passengers’ checked suitcases after “Free Palestine” stickers were discovered on the luggage. This prompted enhanced security screening and a nearly two-hour delay.
The incident occurred on a scheduled afternoon departure. According to passengers onboard, the flight was originally set to leave at 2:00 PM, but was first delayed by approximately 25 minutes before crew members announced a more serious issue involving checked baggage. The aircraft ultimately departed at around 3:45 PM.
Passengers reported that the captain and head purser later informed those onboard that 140 suitcases had been removed from the aircraft after “Free Palestine” stickers were found attached to them. The discovery triggered security concerns that required each affected bag to undergo individual screening to rule out the possibility of explosives or other threats. As the inspections took longer than expected, the airline made the decision to operate the flight without the luggage rather than risk further delaying departure.
During the delay, tensions reportedly rose among some passengers. One traveler shouted in protest, while another expressed concern that his wife’s suitcase contained a dress intended for their daughter’s wedding. According to passengers, crew members emphasized that ensuring the safety of the flight was the top priority.
After arriving in Israel, passengers received notification from EL AL confirming that their luggage had not traveled on the same aircraft. The airline advised that the suitcases are expected to be forwarded on the next direct flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The incident has also raised questions among travelers about how the stickers were placed on the bags (with some expressing concern about airport baggage handling and security oversight).
EL AL has not indicated whether an investigation is underway regarding how the stickers were attached, but the airline’s decision underscores the heightened sensitivity surrounding aviation security and the precautionary measures carriers may take when faced with potential risks.
Anthony’s Take: What an annoying situation. Staff that did this thinking it was a joke should be held accountable for the inconvenience that they caused through these stickers.
(Featured Image Credit: EL AL Airlines.)
(H/T: One Mile at a Time.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
