News: Politics creates an aviation incident at Tel Aviv on May 6th 2015

The Aviation Herald		Last Update: Saturday, May 5th 2018 21:53Z 22455 Articles available Events from Jun 19th 1999 to May 5th 2018
www.avherald.com	Incidents and News in Aviation

List by:

Filter:

Politics creates an aviation incident at Tel Aviv on May 6th 2015

By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, May 6th 2015 17:09Z, last updated Wednesday, May 6th 2015 17:27Z

Israeli newspapers as well as a number of self proclaimed Aviation Services nearly fell over backwards when an Airbus A330-300 with the logo of Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) was seen landing at Tel Aviv Airport (Israel) and reported an emergency/unusual landing of that aircraft into Tel Aviv due to some sort of mechanical issues.

However, no incident took place (that's why this story is not labelled incident but "only" news).

The "hapless" A330-300 carrying just two crew was completing its flight normally, that had been planned from Brussels (Belgium) to Tel Aviv (Israel), the aircraft is to undergo maintenance in Tel Aviv.

IAI confirmed the HiFly Airbus A330-300 registration CS-TMT, leased out to Saudia, positioned from Brussels to Tel Aviv to receive maintenance at their IAI maintenance facility at Tel Aviv under the contract, IAI has with the European operator of the aircraft.

The aircraft touched safely and normally down on Ben Gurion's runway 12 at 01:55L (22:55Z May 5th) as flight HFY-511P from Brussels.

Due to the political situation the two countries do not have any diplomatic relations, an aircraft from Saudi Arabia would be extremely unlikely at any Israeli Airport as would be an Israeli aircraft on any Saudi Arabian Airport.

Without that political situation nobody would ever have taken notice of this aircraft arriving.

CS-TMT at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport (Photo: Israel News Flash):

Reader Comments: (the comments posted below do not reflect the view of The Aviation Herald but represent the view of the various posters)

Stupidity
By Flapsone on Monday, May 11th 2015 15:49Z

The blame is to the person(s), who didn't think the consequences of sending a painted with saudia colors aircraft, to Israel.....
The stupidity of those person(s) endangers the work of many persons , as a result of loosing such a contract. Shame.

follow-up
By Av8tor on Monday, May 11th 2015 11:28Z

Saudia has, in the mean time, cancelled their contract with the aircraft owners.

Hyjet or Skydrol?
By Bloke on Monday, May 11th 2015 11:03Z

It used to be the case that middle-eastern/saudi operators would only service their aircraft with hyjet instead of skydrol, as skydrol was manufactured by solutia, owned by monsanto, which had jewish owners, but they've been bought by eastman it's probably fine?? Lets keep religious prejudices out of aviation shall we?

Aviation over politics
By will on Monday, May 11th 2015 07:12Z

People from countries that don't even recognise each other, working together for aviation.

Of course, it would help if hatred towards jews wasn't in the Quran. No doubt Iran Air would rather ditch one their ageing aircraft into the Mediterranean.

Sillystuff indeed ...
By Paulo on Sunday, May 10th 2015 23:18Z

Silly stuff indeed ... but costing a sh**load of money to a company purely due to politics. Sad but true.

Enough Already...
By NFZ on Saturday, May 9th 2015 22:55Z

Well meaning folks on the ground, in the air and gosh, even in this space are over-reacting, more than a bit. Normally, I'd suggest that everyone chill a bit as this appears to be nothing more than a routine business engagement. In this case, "chilling" won't do, as multiple representatives seem to be retaining ice cubes in places that they are usually not used. Loosen up folks and stay close to the lav. This is both a non-incident event as one that is not worthy of becoming a News Item. I wonder how this originated. IMO, seriously silly stuff.

@Adam
By MarcoGVA on Saturday, May 9th 2015 19:29Z

Not the first time Hifly messes up PR : they once carried FC Barcelona on an aircraft with another team's logo, and Barcelona (at least at that time) said they would never work with Hifly again...

By keith Watkins on Friday, May 8th 2015 23:36Z

@ jewboy Yeah right, Politics again. Why don't you just pay attention to what you do best and fly, Leave the politics to those who choose power over commitment. Fly safely my friend, Keith.

bye bye Arabia
By CMV on Friday, May 8th 2015 21:43Z

Yes, Adam is right unfortunately, Saudia indeed cancelled its contracts with HiFly. Naive perhaps of HiFly but this is commercial aviation in its modern day and form, and if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Sad, sad, sad.

Saudia canceling deal with Hifly
By Adam on Friday, May 8th 2015 19:19Z

Saudia just announced that they'll be canceling their leasing agreement with Hifly as they viewed this situation as a major PR disaster given the political history between the two countries. I honestly think that it's very naive of Hifly to land a plane with the Saudia livery in an Israeli airport.

By fahd on Friday, May 8th 2015 16:07Z

it is a politics and system that we must respect.it will be impossible for Indian tourist with little money to enter UK or US, in addition,I am a Muslim and Saudi but I will not be able to go to some Muslim or Arab countries. If there is a diplomatic relation between Saudi and Israel why not?
However if there are emergency situation nobody can say no.
we still human and if we are different we still brother in humanity.

@jewboy
By david on Friday, May 8th 2015 04:32Z

I don't think anyone here is saying that Israeli's are racist. They know the animosity that some other nations (such as Saudi that, as Simon mentioned, do not recognize Israel as a nation) have for them. Therefore, it is indeed surprising and a wonder to them that such a carrier's logo would even land there. Obviously, the local authorities did not ban the aircraft from landing (can you imagine an El Al plane landing in Medina?), so I don't understand how you are even remotely thinking that "israeli's are racist".

Strange mindset indeed.

Saudis incident in Tel Aviv
By Gerrit on Friday, May 8th 2015 03:51Z

I am surprised to read these comments to say the least. It appears very little research has been done before such comments were made. The aviation situation seen here is far more complex then just "this is BS ". I worked for Saudia many years as an Expat. Please do a little reading up before such niave comments are posted.
Gerrit

israelis are racists.
By jewboy on Thursday, May 7th 2015 17:00Z

not allowing one culture to visit another is just racist and bigoted to the extreme

Israel stamps
By XXX on Thursday, May 7th 2015 14:57Z

I was in Israel last month and stamps are past. You receive a small white card , something like mini copy of your passport with picture and you should keep it with your passport.

@david
By jeropiga on Thursday, May 7th 2015 13:55Z

You were lucky in not going to jail! In old Kadafi era, PAX with Israel stamps trying to enter Lybia would get a ticket to jail and deportation!

These political issues are a big BS. we are talking about aviation. No one should give a damn about were maintenance is performed ( IAI is an EASA approved AMO). I would not be surprised if the aircraft was banned after this maintenance event.

Will they let it back into Saudi?
By david on Thursday, May 7th 2015 12:44Z

I once was rejected entry to Saudi for having an Israel stamp in my passport (had to get a new passport). Do you think this plane will be allowed back into Saudi?

wet leased EU A/C
By CMV on Thursday, May 7th 2015 10:36Z

CS-TMT used to be leased to the Belgian Air Force from 2009 until end 2013. Downsizing, BAF is since leasing an A321 from HiFly. After its lease to BAF, CS-TMT has been wet leased to Saudia. So, apart from the logo on the A/C, no surprises in Tel-Aviv: EU/Portuguese A/C and Portuguese crew. And to complete the international "picture", the owner of HiFly, the Mirpuri family, is from North Indian-Angolan (Portuguese) descent.

CS - Roots
By Klaus on Thursday, May 7th 2015 07:25Z

No, Michael, he means CS, because this HiFly plane is registered in Portugal, not in Thailand.

@Michael Roots
By Lukas757 on Wednesday, May 6th 2015 23:34Z

The registration is correct, the plane is registered in Portugal (HiFly).

By Rampy on Wednesday, May 6th 2015 21:52Z

Great story :D

Registration
By Michael Roots on Wednesday, May 6th 2015 21:38Z

CS- indicates a Portuguese-registered aircraft. Do you mean HS- ?

Hopefully, Again
By Aviation Training, ret. on Wednesday, May 6th 2015 21:10Z

Dreamer, Stefan, and TS

"Hopefully one day there is peace instead of hate and for example iranians will visit Israel......"

Not long ago that situation existed.
For several years in the 70's, I worked on an aviation project at the Tehran's (then) Mehrabad Airport.
El Al was a regular arrival there with PAX and cargo.

Hopefully, again.
Cheers

By Ronald on Wednesday, May 6th 2015 19:57Z

It was planned to land for three days before yesterday. It arrived on 5k iata code which is a hifly airline flight. A Saudi owned plane would NEVER have landed there just in case of emegency.

By Dreamer on Wednesday, May 6th 2015 19:03Z

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

- John Lennon

As a seasoned traveller ...
By Tango Sierra on Wednesday, May 6th 2015 18:59Z

... I tend to just say "shalom", "salam", "peace".
Thanks to Simon for this news (unfortunately not read by the responsible politicians), and for your sheer endless and excellent work for the community.
shalom & salam & peace - anywhere & anytime!

So sad
By Stefan Margraf on Wednesday, May 6th 2015 18:08Z

It is just an airplane for maintenance. In Saudi Arabia and Israel as well in Gaza and Iran, the people try the best to live their life and to raise their kids, like anywhere in the world. And usually they use airplanes to visit and meet other people and countries. Hopefully one day there is peace instead of hate and for example iranians will visit Israel to get medical treatment.

By Ccan on Wednesday, May 6th 2015 17:58Z

That's why I love Avherald.
Thanks Simon.

Add your comment: (max 1024 characters)
Your IP address 62.210.77.51 is being tracked. We reserve the right to remove any comment for any reason. Profanities, personal attacks (against any physical or legal person), discussions about site policies, false statements or similiar as well as copyrighted materials from third parties will not be tolerated, those messages will summarily be deleted. Links and mail addresses are not permitted and will not appear in the display, posts trying to circumvent the restriction of links/mail addresses will be removed. We ask for your valid e-mail address in the email field. This address is only used by us to establish contact with you in case of further questions, it will not be displayed anywhere or be used otherwise.
Your Name:
Your Email:
Subject:
Your comment:

The Aviation Herald iOS App
iPhone & iPad
Version 1.03

Support The Aviation Herald

one time

Monthly support

1 €/month

Interview:

The human factor named "Simon Hradecky" and the team of man and machine

Get the news right onto your desktop when they happen