Bloomberg
• Sherif Tarek
An Austrian Airlines A320 flying from Tel Aviv to Vienna diverted to Sofia on Oct. 18 after a bomb threat, with a Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 escorting the aircraft. Authorities searched the plane and found nothing dangerous; the flight then continued to Vienna with 51 passengers and six crew members.
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An Austrian Airlines A320 flying from Tel Aviv to Vienna diverted to Sofia on Oct. 18 after a bomb threat, with a Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 escorting the aircraft. Authorities searched the plane and found nothing dangerous; the flight then continued to Vienna with 51 passengers and six crew members.
Israel’s Defense Ministry and the U.S. Pentagon have signed an agreement for 12 Boeing-manufactured AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, following Israeli government approval. Deliveries are expected to begin in the 2030s, making the purchase a long-lead addition to the Israel Defense Forces’ attack-helicopter fleet.
Arkia Israeli Airlines has postponed the launch of its planned Tokyo service because of a wet-lease permit issue. The delay puts the start of the route on hold; the available report does not specify a revised launch date or further details about the permit.
Israel has signed an agreement with the Pentagon to acquire 12 of Boeing’s latest AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The purchase moved forward after the Israeli government approved a reallocation of funds to resolve a budget impasse; the helicopters are scheduled for delivery at the beginning of the 2030s.
IAI and SIG Sauer say their FIRE STORM 250 quadcopter has completed a live-fire test, identifying and engaging targets from the air with an M250 light machine gun mounted on a MICROLIGHT weapon station. The aircraft is reported to fly for up to three hours carrying 200 rounds; a human operator authorizes every shot.
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Israeli security services evacuated passengers from a Delta Air Lines A330-900neo at Ben Gurion Airport on Oct. 13 after an anonymous threat claimed explosives were onboard. Authorities isolated the aircraft and conducted a security inspection; reports said no credible threat was found.
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Israel’s new rules barring some dual nationals from serving on flights to or over the country have already forced an Ethiopian Airlines cargo 737 to turn back after an Indonesian pilot was found on its crew list. The restrictions follow a separate Flydubai cockpit attack that UAE authorities say was intended to end in a crash at Tel Aviv airport.
Israel has barred foreign pilots and flight attendants who also hold citizenship in any of 31 countries, citing a thwarted terror attack. The restriction affects international airline staffing and operations, though the available report provides no details on the countries covered, the attack or the ban’s duration.
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