An Arkia flight from Paris to Tel Aviv was forced to land in Cyprus on Wednesday, after a passenger attacked a flight attendant, the airline said.
In a statement, the airline said that the passenger in question attempted to enter the bathrooms during takeoff, against flight regulations. After he was told to return to his seat, the passenger “violently attacked one of the flight attendants verbally and physically,” the statement added.
Arkia said that the flight landed in Paphos, Cyprus, in accordance with safety regulations and in line with the pilot’s decision.
The passenger was arrested by police in Cyprus and the flight was expected to continue on to Tel Aviv with the remainder of the passengers.
The airline emphasized that it “would not compromise in any way on issues of security or instances of violence against staff.”
Since the outbreak of war in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught on Israel, most foreign airlines have repeatedly canceled and resumed their flights to and from Tel Aviv, leaving Israel’s connection to the outside world largely in the hands of a few local carriers — El Al, Israir and Arkia.
Arkia has boosted its flight offerings over the past two years, even adding a flight to New York as US carriers have largely stayed away. It is also facing a class-action suit over profiteering during the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June, when Israeli airspace was shut and all flights were canceled.
