If this wasn't serious or a real story, it would be funny.
A family from the United States briefly disrupted operations in Tel Aviv as they attempted to depart the country with the explosive keepsake..JPG) |
| EL AL BOEING 787-9 4X-EDJ (MSN 65086) |
A family of American tourists sent the departures area of Isreal's largest airport into a panic after attempting to check an unexploded ordinance. Evacuation procedures were initiated this week at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport after security inspectors became away of the presence of an unexploded artillery shell. The family, who was visiting from the United States, attempted to return to the US with the ordinance as a souvenir.
A family member discovered the object during a trip to the Golan Heights area and then packed it for their return trip as a souvenir. Upon arrival at the airport, the visitors voluntarily withdrew the shell from their backpack to ask security if they could place it in a suitcase. The official recognized the item as an explosive and initiated emergency procedures to clear the surrounding area.
Security officials successfully removed the ordinance without causing any damage, and the airport shortly resumed operations. The family was held for questioning by security officials at the airport before reportedly being allowed to depart the country.
Panic in the departures area
Panic ensued at the country's largest airport as passengers understood the warnings as "terrorists shooting" and began fleeing the scene. Footage of the scene shared on social media shows passengers fleeing the area, taking shelter on the ground, and calling for their children as passengers rushed to safety.
One passenger received medical attention for injuries related to the incident. The Israeli Airport authority confirmed a 32-year-old man was injured while attempting to flee after falling onto moving a baggage carousel into the mayhem. The gentleman, who goes by Uri, described the scene to local news reporters:
"I was at the airport waiting for an hour in line until I got to the check-in counter, and suddenly at a radius of five meters (16ft) people started running away and left luggage.
The fear was that someone is spraying bullets, I understood that I too have to escape, so I ran towards the check-in, I stumbled on a conveyor belt... and flew a distance of six meters."
Panic ensued at the country's largest airport as passengers understood the warnings as "terrorists shooting" and began fleeing the scene. Footage of the scene shared on social media shows passengers fleeing the area, taking shelter on the ground, and calling for their children as passengers rushed to safety.
One passenger received medical attention for injuries related to the incident. The Israeli Airport authority confirmed a 32-year-old man was injured while attempting to flee after falling onto moving a baggage carousel into the mayhem. The gentleman, who goes by Uri, described the scene to local news reporters:
"I was at the airport waiting for an hour in line until I got to the check-in counter, and suddenly at a radius of five meters (16ft) people started running away and left luggage.
The fear was that someone is spraying bullets, I understood that I too have to escape, so I ran towards the check-in, I stumbled on a conveyor belt... and flew a distance of six meters."
Security tensions
The airport is situated 28 mi northwest of Jerusalem and 12 mi southeast of Tel Aviv and serves as a primary entry point for the nation. The airport has been the target of significant threats in the past and maintains one of the world's highest levels of aviation security.
The bomb is one of many unexploded shells and land mines that remain in the area following conflicts between Isreal and Syria in 1967 and 1973. Earlier this year, the Israeli Defense Ministry discovered an underground bunker in Golan Heights with hundreds of explosives, including pyrotechnic munitions, explosives, and ammunition.
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