BREAKING: El Al Flight to Dubai Diverts Back to Tel Aviv Suddenly
This is a developing story.
Reports confirm that El Al flight LY973, en route from Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv to Dubai International Airport (DXB), departed as scheduled on January 29, 2026, but was diverted back to TLV shortly after takeoff.
The flight, operated by a Boeing 737-800, took off at approximately 2:14 PM Israel Standard Time (IST) and turned around while overflying Saudi airspace, according to real-time tracking data.Flight tracking platforms, including Flightradar24, indicate the aircraft reached cruising altitude before initiating a U-turn and returning to its origin. No official reason for the diversion has been provided by El Al or Israeli aviation authorities as of 4:30 PM IST.
Possible causes could include technical issues, security concerns, or operational decisions amid regional tensions.The scheduled departure was at 2:00 PM IST, with an expected arrival in Dubai at 7:15 PM local time (5:15 PM IST).
Passengers on board have been rerouted or accommodated, though details remain limited. This incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened Middle East instability, but no direct links have been reported.
El Al has not issued a statement yet.