The former head of Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said on Monday that by refusing to refuel an El Al plane in an Anatolian airport on Sunday, Turkey had committed an unimaginable act and a "blatant violation of the bilateral aviation agreement between Israel and Turkey, which is still in effect."
On Sunday, an El Al flying from Tel Aviv to Warsaw made an emergency landing at the Turkish airport after a passenger had a medical emergency and needed immediate hospitalization. After the plane landed, local staff at the airport refused to refuel it leaving it to stand on the tarmac for hours before the pilot departed for nearby Rhodes.
"The relevant political authorities must respond to this immediately,” Neri Yarkoni said. It must be dealt with by the transportation minister, the foreign minister and the prime minister. Tomorrow an Israeli airliner would be denied passage through Turkish airspace. Israel must respond forcefully and at once," he said.
An initial investigation of the incident revealed that a local agent working for the company responsible for refueling the plane refused to do so unless he was given written approval. Israeli officials were in contact with Turkish authorities, who had not expressed any opposition to the El Al plane being refueled. A lack of clear communication resulted in the local agent refusing to service the plane.
"The delays in the handling of the plane in Antalya are under investigation by Israeli authorities. El Al prioritizes the health and safety of its passengers and stressed there wasn’t any danger to the passengers and crew at any stage," a senior official at El Al said.