Ruth Haines
Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international airport, has been the target of several terrorist attacks. In May 2025, a Houthi missile attack injured six people, marking the first time a Houthi missile had impacted the airport grounds. The Iran-backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack, threatening to strike again and impose an air blockade on Israel. This incident caused a brief shutdown of the airport and disrupted flights, with most foreign airlines avoiding Ben Gurion Airport following the attack. Ben Gurion Airport, located near Tel Aviv, has a history of facing security threats and has implemented strict security measures to prevent aircraft hijackings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Outskirts of the city of Lod, 15km from Tel Aviv |
| Year of Construction | 1934 |
| Yearly Passengers (as of 2023) | 21.1 million |
| Terminals | 1 and 3 |
| Security | High level of security |
| Terrorist Attacks | Target of several terrorist attacks, including a missile attack by Houthis in May 2025 |
| Hijacking Attempts | No successful hijacking attempts of planes departing from the airport |
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What You'll Learn
Terrorist attacks and hijacking attempts
Ben Gurion Airport has been the target of several terrorist attacks and hijacking attempts. However, no attempts to hijack a plane departing from the airport have ever succeeded, thanks to the airport's strict security precautions.
On May 8, 1972, four Palestinian Black September terrorists hijacked a Sabena flight en route from Vienna and forced it to land at Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli commandos stormed the plane, killing two of the hijackers and capturing the other two. Unfortunately, one passenger was killed during the operation.
Later that month, on May 30, 1972, in what became known as the Lod Airport massacre, three members of the Japanese Red Army opened fire in the passenger arrival area, killing 24 people and injuring 80 others.
More recently, in May 2025, a ballistic missile launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen struck the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport, causing a brief halt to flights. Six people were injured in the attack, but none seriously. This marked the first successful targeting of the airport by the Houthis, who had previously attempted to strike it with missiles. The attack raised concerns about the vulnerabilities of Israeli airports and the effectiveness of US efforts to weaken the Houthi group.
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The 1972 Sabena flight hostage crisis
On May 8, 1972, four Palestinian terrorists from the Black September group hijacked a Sabena flight en route from Vienna to Tel Aviv. The Boeing 707 plane was seized 20 minutes into its flight and forced to land at Ben Gurion Airport, then known as Lod Airport. The hijackers, including 18-year-old Theresa Halsa, demanded the release of 315 convicted Palestinian terrorists from Israeli jails and threatened to blow up the plane with its passengers.
Captain Reginald Levy, a Royal Air Force veteran, managed to send a coded message to the Israelis requesting help. Defense Minister Moshe Dayan and Transport Minister Shimon Peres, who would both go on to become Prime Minister of Israel, negotiated with the hijackers while preparing a rescue operation, code-named "Operation Isotope". Captain Levy recalled talking to the hijackers about a range of topics to stall for time.
On May 9, 1972, at 4:00 p.m., a team of 16 Sayeret Matkal commandos, including Benjamin Netanyahu, who would also later become Prime Minister, stormed the plane. The rescue operation, led by future Prime Minister Ehud Barak, resulted in the killing of two hijackers and the capture of the remaining two. Unfortunately, one passenger was killed during the operation.
The Sabena flight hostage crisis was one of two major incidents at Ben Gurion Airport in May 1972. The airport, located on the outskirts of Lod, 15km from Tel Aviv, is Israel's main international airport and one of the busiest in the Middle East. While it has been a target of terrorist attacks, no aircraft departing from Ben Gurion Airport has ever been hijacked.
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The 1972 Lod Airport massacre
On May 30, 1972, three members of the Japanese Red Army, recruited by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – External Operations (PFLP-EO), attacked Lod Airport (now Ben Gurion International Airport) near Tel Aviv. The attack, known as the Lod Airport massacre, killed 24 people, with some sources stating the figure as 26, and injured 80 others. The victims included 17 Christian pilgrims from Puerto Rico, a Canadian citizen, and prominent Israeli figures, including Professor Aharon Katzir, an internationally renowned protein biophysicist, and brother of Israel's 4th president.
The three perpetrators—Kōzō Okamoto, Tsuyoshi Okudaira, and Yasuyuki Yasuda—had been trained in Lebanon. They arrived at the airport on an Air France flight from Rome, dressed conservatively, and carrying slim violin cases, which allowed them to attract little attention. As they entered the waiting area, they opened their cases, extracted machine guns, and fired indiscriminately at passengers waiting for their luggage. Two of the attackers were killed, while Okamoto was captured after being wounded.
The attack has been described as a suicide mission, but it has also been suggested that it was part of a larger operation that went wrong. The use of Japanese attackers took the guards by surprise, as airport security was focused on the possibility of a Palestinian attack. The attack was celebrated by Cairo and Beirut, with a Voice of Fatah radio broadcast in Arabic hailing a "great, humane, revolutionary choice" by the attackers.
In Puerto Rico, the day of the massacre, May 30, has been designated as "Lod Massacre Remembrance Day" since 2006, to commemorate those who were murdered and survived, and to educate the public against terrorism.
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2025 Houthi missile strike
On May 4, 2025, a Houthi missile strike hit a grove near an access road within the perimeter of Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six people. The attack marked the first time a Houthi missile had impacted within the grounds of the airport, which is Israel's main international airport and one of the busiest airports in the Middle East. The Houthis claimed they launched a ""hypersonic ballistic missile", exposing the country's vulnerabilities and the group's ability to strike distant targets despite US efforts to weaken them.
The missile landed several hundred yards from the airport's control tower, and the military made several unsuccessful attempts to intercept it. The attack forced a brief shutdown of the airport, with flights halted for about 30 minutes on Sunday morning. The strike caused anxiety among some, with two people treated for acute anxiety by Magen David Adom.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out "in rejection of (Israel's) crime of genocide" against the people of Gaza. They warned that they could strike again and impose a comprehensive air blockade on Israel by repeatedly targeting airports, especially Ben Gurion. The Houthis also claimed their hypersonic missiles have stealth technology, a range of 2,150 kilometers, high maneuverability, and speeds of up to Mach 16.
The attack prompted a response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed further attacks against the Houthis. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel's response would be "sevenfold". The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes in Yemen the following day, targeting Houthi infrastructure along the coast, including Hudaydah Port and a concrete factory in Bajil, which they believed were used for militant purposes.
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Israel's main international airport
Ben Gurion Airport is Israel's main international airport and is the country's busiest airport. It is located on the outskirts of the city of Lod, 15km from Tel Aviv, and is operated by the Israel Airports Authority. The airport was originally named Lod Airport in 1948 and was later renamed Tel Aviv-Lod International Airport. In 1973, the airport was renamed Ben Gurion International Airport to honour Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion.
Ben Gurion Airport has two operational terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 was the main terminal before the opening of Terminal 3 and is now used for domestic and government flights. Terminal 3 is the newer and larger of the two terminals and is used for international flights. The airport is served by several airlines, including El Al, Israir, Arkia, and Sundor, and is a major hub for travel to and from Israel.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to 1934 when it was built as an airstrip of two unpaved runways during the British Mandate for Palestine. Over the years, the airport has undergone significant development and expansion to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. Despite being a target of several terrorist attacks, the airport is known for its high level of security, and no aircraft departing from Ben Gurion Airport have ever been hijacked.
In May 2025, a missile strike by Houthi rebels near Ben Gurion Airport raised concerns about air defence gaps and economic fallout. This incident led to the suspension of Tel Aviv flights by major airlines, impacting travel and tourism in the region. The missile landed within the airport perimeter, injuring six people. Israel responded to the attack with airstrikes in Yemen, targeting Houthi infrastructure.
Ben Gurion Airport remains a crucial gateway to Israel, offering a convenient entry point for travellers and contributing significantly to the country's aviation industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Ben Gurion Airport is Israel's main international airport, located 15km from Tel Aviv. It is considered one of the best airports in the Middle East due to its high level of security.
Yes, the airport has been the target of several terrorist attacks. On 8 May 1972, four Palestinian Black September terrorists hijacked a Sabena flight and forced it to land at Ben Gurion Airport. Later that month, on 30 May 1972, three members of the Japanese Red Army opened fire in the passenger arrival area, killing 24 people and injuring 80. More recently, in May 2025, a Houthi missile attack injured six people near the airport.
No aircraft departing from Ben Gurion Airport have ever been hijacked, thanks to the airport's strict security precautions. However, airliners hijacked from other countries have landed at Ben Gurion Airport on two notable occasions in 1972.
Terminal 3 is the busiest terminal at Ben Gurion Airport. In 2025, the airport handled 21.1 million passengers.
In 2024, the airport saw cancellations after Israel struck Hezbollah military sites. In addition, the opening of Ramon Airport in 2019 reduced Ben Gurion Airport's status as Israel's only international airport.
