By Eve Brennan | CNN
A British Airways flight from London to Tel Aviv made an abrupt U-turn shortly before it was due land in the Israeli city on Wednesday as the airline canceled all flights to the destination amid safety concerns.
Flight BA165 from London’s Heathrow Airport was on the approach to Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport when it was recalled to its original destination, according to the FlightRadar24 airplane tracking website.
British Airways confirmed to CNN that the flight was turned around shortly before it was due to land in the northern Israeli city, which has come under rocket fire as intense fighting rages between Israel forces and Hamas.
The airline said it had halted services to and from Tel Aviv as of late Wednesday.
“Safety is always our highest priority and following the latest assessment of the situation, we’re suspending our flights to and from Tel Aviv,” it said in a statement to CNN.
