News

Eilat airport briefly closed after security concerns

Israel’s Eilat airport was briefly shut yesterday after the military ordered the closure of surrounding airspace.

The airport re-opened after a closure of two hours.

“Security assessments” based on “intelligence and other regional developments” had prompted the move, the Israeli military said.

The Israel Aviation Authority said eight flights scheduled to land in Eilat had been diverted to another airport, Uvda, some 36 miles away, Reuters news agency said.

Eilat has been targeted in the past by rockets fired by Islamist militants in the neighbouring Sinai peninsula.

However, there was no suggestion that this closure is the result of an immediate threat to attack the airport.

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.