Dozens of Shabbos-observant passengers were left stranded in London hours before Shabbos began after Israir Flight 116, scheduled to depart for Israel on Thursday evening, was canceled due to aircraft damage.
An airport service vehicle struck the plane while it was being towed before takeoff, causing damage that made the aircraft unfit for flight. According to reports, this marked the third such incident at the London airport, though airport management has not conducted a formal investigation into the previous similar accidents.
Passengers were evacuated and escorted back to the terminal to retrieve their luggage. Israir arranged hotel accommodations and transportation for affected travelers. The airline also stated it would reimburse passengers who made their own lodging arrangements for hotel expenses, transportation, and meals in accordance with company policy.
Israir has been coordinating with relevant authorities to operate a rescue flight as soon as possible. Passengers unable to travel due to Shabbos observance are scheduled to be flown back on Sunday.
The airline apologized to passengers, noting that the incident was beyond its control. Israir said it will continue assisting travelers until their return to Israel and emphasized that passenger safety and security remain its highest priority.