While flight diversions happen all the time, I’d say this one is pretty significant.
In this post:
Air Seychelles flight bound for Tel Aviv diverts to Jeddah
Israel has come a long way in recent years when it comes to diplomatic relations with Gulf countries. While Israel and Saudi Arabia don’t yet have diplomatic relations, Saudi Arabia did in 2022 open its airspace to all flights to and from Israel, including those operated by Israeli airlines, which is a big step in the right direction.
But what happens when a flight full of Israelis needs to divert due to a technical issue over Saudi Arabia? Well, we’ve just found out for the first time.
On Monday, August 28, 2023, Air Seychelles flight HM22 was scheduled to fly from Mahe (SEZ) to Tel Aviv (TLV). The 2,865-mile flight was operated by an Airbus A320neo with the registration code S7-VEV. The flight departed as planned, shortly after 5PM local time, and started its journey toward Israel.
Unfortunately while over the Red Sea, the plane encountered some electrical issues, with lights in the cabin flickering on and off, and a burning smell. As a result, the plane needed to divert. The closest major airport to the plane’s location was Jeddah (JED), so that’s where the plane diverted to.
There were at least 128 Israelis on the aircraft, including some Israeli security officials who were on vacation. They all ended up needing to spend the night in Saudi Arabia, given that the plane couldn’t be fixed right away.
Saudi Arabia provides hospitality, flight operates next day
One passenger on the flight shares with Times of Israel how nervous many passengers were at first, as they wondered if Air Seychelles fully understood the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel:
“We heard people saying Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. And everyone was, like, ‘What? But we’re Israelis? How can Israelis land in Saudi Arabia?’ But we realized that, in the end, they did understand.”
Despite the lack of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, by all accounts Saudi Arabia was very welcoming to passengers. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu even posted a video message thanking Saudi authorities for their “warm attitude” and “neighborliness.”
Passengers ended up spending a night in Jeddah, and the following day Air Seychelles dispatched a replacement aircraft (actually, its only other jet). Specifically, the Airbus A320neo with the registration code S7-PTI was dispatched from Dubai (DWC) to Jeddah (JED), and it landed there shortly before 10AM on Tuesday.
Then at around 11:30AM the aircraft operated from Jeddah to Tel Aviv, which is a remarkable route to see. That flight took 1hr47min, and passengers landed safely at around 1:30PM, roughly 15 hours behind schedule.
Bottom line
An Air Seychelles flight bound for Israel had to divert to Saudi Arabia due to a technical issue. This is the first time that an Israel-bound jet has ever had to divert to Saudi Arabia, so that’s a pretty major milestone. Passengers ended up having to spend the night in Saudi Arabia, and the following day flew on the first-ever passenger flight between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
How cool to see a positive story like this, including the warm hospitality. Here’s to hoping that Israel and Saudi Arabia can soon establish diplomatic relations.
What do you make of this Saudi Arabia diversion story?
I've been to Israel on business many times and recently traveled to Saudi Arabia on business for the first time -- with much trepidation. And - guess what - my fears were unfounded. The country is much different than we all believe and is changing rapidly. Many governments have problems these days as the world moves right - looking at you, the US and Europe. The KSA while not perfect either, is moving left. We...
I've been to Israel on business many times and recently traveled to Saudi Arabia on business for the first time -- with much trepidation. And - guess what - my fears were unfounded. The country is much different than we all believe and is changing rapidly. Many governments have problems these days as the world moves right - looking at you, the US and Europe. The KSA while not perfect either, is moving left. We need to meet people where they are. The Israelis on that flight and the Saudis in Jeddah did just that.
What else did you expect?
Allah or God knows better.
Way maker
Miracle worker
A light in the darkness
It is god or Allah's work.
If Saudi wants to change for the better culturally and economically.
It was the moment of truth.
Only God or Allah will know why this happened to this particular flight.
Seychelles is the paradise of god or Allah as we all know that there is a light beyond all horizon.
One of the most important pillars of Arab culture is hospitality. The Saudi response was right in line with that. For someone who is full of sanctimony, (writing about your racist Luft driver) This story was written as if something sinister was expected to happen.
Why is this surprising? What would not be surprising? If Saudi put everyone in jail?
I mean, it's good that this kind of articles are published, to show that Middle East is not a horrible, unsafe place that media likes to show.
Wonder if anyone saw the show Teheran and recognize some similarities!
I did.
This is also the plot of White Nights, which doesn't end so happily.
This article has zero to do with the Palestinians and this long term problem. When the time is right, Saudi Arabia may indeed make peace with Israel, just as many other countries have done already and for many years. The political mess over there has been around forever and will continue forever and countries just make the best of it as it suits them at the time.
Not at all "surprisingly positive" when MBS himself actually wants better ties with Israel and the West in general, of course will be hospitable in this scenario.
Hell has frozen over.
This will dramatically improve perceptions of SA's ability to host the world - essential as they try to become much more global for aviation.
Good on them.
Even if we forget the advances in relations over the past few years - Saudi Arabia is no Iran, it's trying to open up, invites foreigners, and wants to show itself to the world. Add to that Israel is not a good country to mess with. I had zero doubts this ended well.
BTW - does anybody know how exactly they "spent the night?." Ben doesn't mention - were they in the terminal, or they were actually allowed into a hotel, even if supervised?
They were bussed to a hotel on the airport grounds and, according to the passengers, very well treated with utmost courtesy. Who knows... it may have been a test flight planned from origin.
I don't think there's a hotel on the grounds of JED. I spent the night there earlier this year and the closest hotel was a Clarion a few miles south of the airport. Really nice hotel btw.
Saudi Arabia and Israel share a common eternal enemy Iran. But the royal family is more concerned about riling up domestic rebellion against diplomatic relations with Israel than confronting Iran. Now, it opens its border to foreign tourists and must be content with maintaining peace and accords with the West. Unlike Russia, SA cannot survive alone on its oil revenues as foreigners build, maintain and operate the backbone of major industries and lifelines in the...
Saudi Arabia and Israel share a common eternal enemy Iran. But the royal family is more concerned about riling up domestic rebellion against diplomatic relations with Israel than confronting Iran. Now, it opens its border to foreign tourists and must be content with maintaining peace and accords with the West. Unlike Russia, SA cannot survive alone on its oil revenues as foreigners build, maintain and operate the backbone of major industries and lifelines in the country. It lessens the importance of Palestinian causes after 1991 Iraq invasion of Kuwait. The ugly fact remains that Palestinians butchered more Arabs than the Jews. Not to mention bin Laden was the most famous home grown terrorist in SA and world wide. Let's hope that SA reduces if not bans its role in spreading Wahhabism to its neighboring Arab countries.
Bro, you bounced between a half-dozen different subjects in that, several of which have nothing to do with the other.
Given that Saudi and Iran just restored diplomatic ties, I would counter that your statements are incorrect.
One of the many myths created by Western propaganda.
The people are friendly but the government is tyrannical. Both can be true. Same with that Air India flight that landed in Russia not too long ago. The locals welcomed everyone with open arms.
I’m not sure why you see this as surprising. How would you have expected the Saudis to handle a bunch of civilians?
A NW flight diverted to Tehran in 2005, and was treated well.
Exactly.
Hopefully soon we will see Israel treating Palestinians like human beings
Oy, the ignorance is painful
And, maybe, reciprocally?
Significant for sure. Will be even more of a story when it's an El Al plane diverting. Obviously I hope that never needs to happen (as I hope on plane ever needs to divert).
Thank you President Trump and his Abraham Accords.
You mean the criminal prisoner P00135809.
When you replace "criminal" with "political" prisoner, you will be stating this correctly...
He’s a racist, narcissistic sociopath who tried to overthrow an elected government.
Trump is living in your head.
You mean he tried to challenge the election fraud where mail in ballots were stuffed, signatures not verified, and counted at 4AM with no legal observers.
His only crime is talking big but not taking action as President that would defeat the corrupted establishment uniparty. He is guilty of cowardice before the enemy for not giving his followers orders and using his position when he had the chance.
The government is corrupted and he was right to challenge it.
Very sad that you are in an alternate universe and people like you see conspiracies everywhere. It must be a scary life you live with kinds of perceived grievances.
You mean he tried to challenge the election fraud where mail in ballots were stuffed, signatures not verified, and counted at 4AM with no legal observers.
All of which was claimed, in 62 court cases in nearly 3dozen states... none of which was proved.
Resulting in 61 out of 62 cases either dismissed or adjudicated not in Trump's favor; the sole exception being Pennsylvania, won on account of local security's refusal to allow...
You mean he tried to challenge the election fraud where mail in ballots were stuffed, signatures not verified, and counted at 4AM with no legal observers.
All of which was claimed, in 62 court cases in nearly 3dozen states... none of which was proved.
Resulting in 61 out of 62 cases either dismissed or adjudicated not in Trump's favor; the sole exception being Pennsylvania, won on account of local security's refusal to allow designated poll observers to within 15ft of counting personnel, as required by ordinance.
........Trump lost. Your refusal to accept reality, does not change that fact.
I don't disagree with any of your descriptors, but I remember Al Gore and Hillary Clinton doing the same thing to a greater or lesser extent - Al Gore took his election theft claims to the Supreme Court and Hillary created a false narrative that interfered with the Administration of a duly elected President for 4 years. Richard Nixon who is not thought of as an honorable man let his opponent get away with what...
I don't disagree with any of your descriptors, but I remember Al Gore and Hillary Clinton doing the same thing to a greater or lesser extent - Al Gore took his election theft claims to the Supreme Court and Hillary created a false narrative that interfered with the Administration of a duly elected President for 4 years. Richard Nixon who is not thought of as an honorable man let his opponent get away with what is now widely believed by historians to be a stolen Presidential election.
There is nothing particularly new about challenging the results of elections, even if Trump was far more hamfisted about it. I would be happy to never hear the name Trump again, but that the principal opponent of the sitting President faces several criminal trials the week before Super Tuesday - for allegedly conspiratorial acts premised on what previously would have been considered free speech protected by the 1st Amendment - makes him a political prisoner in my mind. Hardly the first as Eugene v. Debs could tell you if he was still around.
@Mak,
WRONG. Gore, Abrams, McCain, etc challenged the elections in various courts, lost, and walked away.
They didn't try to stage fake state electoral delegates, nor coerce Secretaries of State to garner more votes for them.... which is what the actual charges are.
He's not being charged for SAYING (speech) the election is stolen, he's being charged for the combined ACTS of attempting to subvert the results.
Thank you TRUMP!