The saga of returning from Uman continues to unfold, as hundreds of Yidden remain stranded in Europe following mass flight cancellations and border delays.
Earlier, YWN reported on the tense situation in New York, where Hi Sky Airlines Flight H4 101 from Bucharest is scheduled to land at JFK just before Shabbos. The flight, carrying hundreds of returning mispallelim, was delayed on the ground in Romania for hours under unclear circumstances, sparking suspicion of antisemitic motives. Thanks to coordinated efforts by law enforcement chaplains and askanim, customs in JFK is preparing for a rapid processing of passengers so they can reach their homes before licht bentchen.
Now, EL AL has announced it will step in to assist those still stranded overseas. After discussions with Shas Chairman MK Aryeh Deri, the airline confirmed it will operate a dedicated rescue flight from Bucharest to Israel on Motzaei Shabbos.
Hundreds of Israeli chassidim who were unable to fly home after their flights on foreign carriers were canceled will be accommodated on this special operation. The rescue flight will be operated on one of EL AL’s largest aircraft, with over 300 seats allocated to the organizers of the canceled flights.
EL AL stated that it views the situation with utmost seriousness and is working to ensure stranded Israelis have a safe and reliable way to return home.
With one plane racing against the clock to land before Shabbos in New York, and another now scheduled to depart Europe after Shabbos for Israel, the exhausting and uncertain journey back from Uman is still far from over for many travelers.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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3 Responses
Gevald! Stop pulling the breslovers out of every fire they keep putting themselves into!
Why is El Al bragging about continuing to work to assist Israelis find themselves in an “emergency situation”? This is not an “emergency”. Flights get cancelled for many different reasons all the time. The passengers are helped to find solutions. This may take a day or two and result in some extra costs, but it is the price of flying. Usually, travel insurance will pick up the tab. Who is paying for this flight? Let us hope that the Israeli immigration authorities, in conjunction with the Military Police will very carefully check all passengers on this plane and arrest any whose army papers are not in order.
It’s not an emergency. They found the money to travel they can come home on their own.