With the United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York right now, we’re seeing lots of interesting government aircraft headed to New York. However, arguably no plane is taking a more unusual path than that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to give a speech, and meet with United States President Donald Trump.
In this post:
Israel’s government Boeing 767 avoids some Europe airspace
At the moment, Israel’s Prime Minister is flying from Tel Aviv (TLV) to New York (JFK). As usual, he’s flying on the “Wing of Zion,” belonging to the Israeli Air Force, which ordinarily transports the country’s leaders. This is a 25-year-old Boeing 767-300ER with the registration code 4X-ISR.
Israel is no stranger to avoiding the airspace of certain countries, though this 5,677-mile flight is making some noteworthy detours, which you wouldn’t ordinarily see with EL AL planes. While the plane is now out over the Atlantic Ocean, its routing from Israel to beyond the cost of Portugal was quite something.
Rather than just taking a direct routing there, the plane flew in a more roundabout way than usual. It flew over the southern parts of Greece and Italy, before turning south, to avoid flying over France, Spain, etc.
Perhaps most interesting is how the plane passed between Spain and Morocco, as it flew right over the nine mile wide Strait of Gibraltar.
Why is Netanyahu’s plane avoiding certain countries?
Why is Netanyahu’s plane taking this roundabout routing, which is even less direct than you’d find on your typical EL AL flight? The Israeli government hasn’t revealed the reason, but presumably it’s not just a coincidence.
The most common theory seems to be wanting to avoid select Rome Statute signatory countries (the treaty under which the International Criminal Court operates), which could enforce arrest warrants in case of an emergency landing. The treaty requires countries to avoid acts that contradict the charter’s purpose. Keep in mind that countries like Israel, Russia, and the United States, have all withdrawn from this treaty, which assures Netanyahu a level of safety in the United States.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, alleging responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts during the Gaza war.
With countries like France and Spain having recently recognized Palestinian statehood, there are increasing concerns about what could happen in the event of Netanyahu landing in those countries, regarding the enforcement of arrest warrants.
That being said, I imagine there even has to be a little more to this, and a general desire to avoid certain airspace. After all, in the event of an emergency, where else would Netanyahu divert to? I can’t imagine he’d feel better about a diversion to Algeria or Libya, for example. So could this instead be more about concern about “bad actors” in the airspace of these countries?
Bottom line
As Netanyahu flies to New York, his plane is taking a rather unusual routing, avoiding flying over select European countries. While no official reason has been given for this, it seems the most likely explanation is a fear of a possible arrest in a country like France or Spain, in the event of a landing there. The measures taken were so extreme that the plane even flew through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar.
Bibi did not start all of this...Hamas and PLO did and continue to do so by stopping-blocking-stealing aid to Gaza and causing children and adults to starve....
According to your map, the aircraft flew right over Sardinia, which is part of Italy. And also over southern Greece, whose participation in the treaty you mentioned I am unfamiliar with. Both are definitely part of the E.U., if that matters.
The A-rabs paid a tremendous price messing with Israel! Most everybody knows that .
After team X wins the Super Bowl, a small group of fans in the team's home city go on a rampage. Is it fair to brand everyone in that city as someone who goes on a rampage? Likewise, the "Arabs" didn't mess with Israel and don't care to mess with Israel. The average person living in Gaza didn't mess with Israel and doesn't care to mess with Israel. It was a small group of individuals. But, it sounds like your mind is already made up.
Non political. I think it is interesting flight news, how diplomatic flights take place.
I remember Evo Morales trying to fly his countries plane with diplomatic clearance only for his plane to be stopped illegally and searched by the US in Austria.
Its all very interesting. Thanks Ben.
Bottom line, if you want people to not discuss politics on this website stick to points, miles, and reviews, and avoid news that talk about a plane or routing that is not relevant.
This is how many of us feel. But the temptation of raking in $$$$ from clicks is far too tempting, it appears. So we will continue to see political and social issue 'stories' polluting an otherwise fine blog. A week would not be 'complete' here if it didn't feature various Trump, Thunberg, Gaza, Israel clickbait.
It's unfortunate America welcomed that war criminal to the US. I'm guessing they didn't impose restrictions on his movements like they did for Iranian diplomats arriving for the same UN session. Hmmm.
"America" did not welcome him. The President did.
I welcomed him.
Lotta well-intentioned people here. Don't expect the country with guns as its leading cause of child mortality (look it up) to give a s**t about genocide against children anywhere, any time soon.
That is all.
Put down the crack pipe, Hunter.
What's new? I'm not surprise the US admin supports genocide...
This United States did not withdraw from this treaty. The United States has never signed it.
The reason will be a little bit more straightforward;
Military aircraft require ‘diplomatic clearance’ to overfly other countries. This is defined as within 12nm of land. However, if countries are within 24nm of each other (or bordering), this reduces to either the equidistant point or the border itself.
So in this case, they were just avoiding territories that had either declined their diplomatic clearance request, or territories they may not have even bothered...
The reason will be a little bit more straightforward;
Military aircraft require ‘diplomatic clearance’ to overfly other countries. This is defined as within 12nm of land. However, if countries are within 24nm of each other (or bordering), this reduces to either the equidistant point or the border itself.
So in this case, they were just avoiding territories that had either declined their diplomatic clearance request, or territories they may not have even bothered requesting (in the assumption it would be declined).
Looks like they had clearance from some European countries, but not others.
To be correct, the United States DID sign the treaty in 2000 but the treaty was never forwarded to the Senate for ratification. In international law, there is something called a "conditions and reservations" provision. When the United States signs any treaty, it is always with the condition that the treaty must be ratified by the Senate.
All the leftist antisemites in the comments make me sick.
The love terrorists who fight the colonizing oppressor, at least until they're on the receiving end of a nail bomb or a knife in the chest.
Take some TYLENOL and get well!
Take some TYLENOL and get well!
No Endre.
Standing against genocide does not make you an antisemite.
It makes you human.
Enough with the victim card.
Repeating a lie does not make it true.
Use your common sense.
Even with Hamas numbers, there are only 60,000 deaths in Gaza since October 7th. At least half are terrorists. How does that equal a genocide? If Israel wanted a genocide, this war would be over in a day.
The whole reason it's dragging on so long is because Hamas won't surrender because they have duped the western world into supporting the...
Repeating a lie does not make it true.
Use your common sense.
Even with Hamas numbers, there are only 60,000 deaths in Gaza since October 7th. At least half are terrorists. How does that equal a genocide? If Israel wanted a genocide, this war would be over in a day.
The whole reason it's dragging on so long is because Hamas won't surrender because they have duped the western world into supporting the terrorists who rape and maim innocents intentionally and use their own people as human shields, because they know it will work to get sympathy from western idiots who can't use common sense.
As you said, avoiding the airspace it only relevant for emergency landings. I'm asking myself what the actual benefit is, as if he lands in the water presumably these countries will come to rescue him. In the end that should lead to the same, no?
American airbases as emergency landing spots aside, it would have been pretty funny if somebody re-ran the Belarus playbook on Netanyahu: https://onemileatatime.com/ryanair-belarus-flight-diversion/
What bases?
And I'm pretty sure IDF would handle this better than average FR pilot.
Meanwhile, the Qatar terrorists are free to come to Europe...
What terrorists? Didn't know that getting an airstrike is a terrorism.
Genuinely, what is wrong with your brain to call people who were bombed the terrorists?
Or the morons who liked your comment?!
It's staggering how little some of you people actually know about the complex situation you comment on with such confidence! Qatar is a state-sponsor of terrorism, a label for which there is abundant supporting evidence. The government of Qatar gave safe harbour to Hamas terrorist leaders for years, allowing them to live lives of luxury on the aid money they embezzled from aid and development projects they were supposed to be running in Gaza. After...
It's staggering how little some of you people actually know about the complex situation you comment on with such confidence! Qatar is a state-sponsor of terrorism, a label for which there is abundant supporting evidence. The government of Qatar gave safe harbour to Hamas terrorist leaders for years, allowing them to live lives of luxury on the aid money they embezzled from aid and development projects they were supposed to be running in Gaza. After Oct 7, Qatar refused to deport the terrorist thieves to Israel to face trial. To make things worse, the Qataris present themselves as "negotiators" and "mediators" in trying to solve the conflict. The slimy, blood-dripping tentacles of the State of Qatar sucker themselves onto every conflict in the Middle East, yet because they have a giant sovereign wealth fund they're feted by leaders in the West. Then there are the gullible lackwits who keep flying with their state-owned airline...
I look forward to the day when the U.S. ends its one-sided support for Israel; an arrangement that offers little tangible benefit to the American people
That being said, I fully back Netanyahu in this conflict not because I'm pro-Israel, but because I'm anti-Palestinian.
Including little kids? Certainly, get rid of Hamas. But, when many bodies of children are found with bullet wound entry points in the same exact spot, as if someone was engaged in target practice at a range, it is more than coincidence. It is intentional.
Shame your 'pity' is only reserved for Gazans who are educated to hate from birth.
Shame your 'pity' is only reserved for Gazans who are educated to hate from birth.
That's the israelis. Gazans have no choice but to hate to defend themselves.
Or AI
Their fathers care more about protecting Hamas than their children
Another bad take, Ben. Pure speculation w/zero facts.
Dude! It's called abductive reasoning. That is, given what we know, what might be the most likely answer. There are facts. The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Bibi. If he were to enter the airspace of any ICC member country, that country has the authority to force his aircraft to land . . . and take him into custody. Thus, it is a reasonable conclusion that Bibi would avoid certain airspace . . . leading to the flight path we see.
"If he were to enter the airspace of any ICC member country, that country has the authority to force his aircraft to land"
Aren't Italy a member of the ICC?
Ben has mostly resorted to posting weird political stuff instead of actual travel news lately. Not sure if his brain is fried or just unable to come up with content.
@ Komma -- I'm curious, how many of the 80 posts that I've published over the past week would you consider to be "weird political stuff?"
A nontrivial amount. Just now you posted something about the Saudi Arabia government policies on social media. Earlier you did this about the Russia sanctions. CPH drone attacks. Pilot retirement ages. Emirates H1-Bs. (This is all just in the last 4 days too).
80 posts is also an inflated number, as that includes generic IHG point sale promotions or three different posts on Citi transfer bonuses.
Don't try to hide it Ben. The thinly veiled political messaging embedded in those Allegris seat articles. Admit it. (That being said, few as they are, I'd rather there be none of these articles.)
Any emergency landings would be at a U.S. air base in any of the aforementioned countries his flight avoided, and certainly Europe wouldn’t pick a fight with Washington. How odd since he has flown to the U.S. a few times and still took the great circle route
It *might* be because a number of countries have now recognized Palestine as a sovereign nation. This *might* signal an attitudinal change that suggests greater caution. Separately, a US Air base in any of these countries would be in the airspace of these countries . . . and Bibi's plane could be forced to a non-US airfield.
I'm quite sure that emergency landings have nothing to do with it, as the nearest suitable airports would still be in those countries (or ones that are even worse). I assume the goal would be to return to Italy if possible, which is equally easy without this detour.
I think their more concerned about hostile acts while the plane is still in the air (I'm not talking about shooting it down or anything, but ATC restrictions etc).
He is a coward and criminal on the run. Its just a matter of time.
It would be amusing to see any of the European "powers" who are most probably incapable of defending the continent from Russian invasion (even though its economy is smaller than Italy's) attempting to take down an IDF plane of any kind including that flying the PM and his entourage. Such an act of war would be met with a swift response by Israel and a rapid surrender by the European country. Certainly the leaders of...
It would be amusing to see any of the European "powers" who are most probably incapable of defending the continent from Russian invasion (even though its economy is smaller than Italy's) attempting to take down an IDF plane of any kind including that flying the PM and his entourage. Such an act of war would be met with a swift response by Israel and a rapid surrender by the European country. Certainly the leaders of any regime declaring war on Israel would be wise to avoid pagers, mobile phones, drones and open-air settings.
Sounds like an illegal guerilla terrorist act by the government of Israel. Os that a threat and are you advocating assassination of government leaders. Ill be turning this website and your information to the FBI for advocating the killing of European leaders and this website as a platform to advocate assassination and killing.
Settle down, MAGA Joe, FFS. You're being hysterical.
Your an F-ing panzy moron.
Sounds like an illegal guerilla terrorist act by the government of Israel. Os that a threat and are you advocating assassination of government leaders. Ill be turning this website and your information to the FBI for advocating the killing of European leaders and this website as a platform to advocate assassination and killing.
Israel has an annual GDP nearly 2.5 times that of Ukraine’s. Israel is a high-income country which has a GDP per capita that is around 10 times that of Ukraine’s. Israel has a nuclear weapons arsenal and delivery capability that is robust. The US taxpayers should stop breastfeeding Israel — a country (unlike the US) with universal healthcare coverage for all its resident citizens — and let Israel pay entirely for its own defense and offensive rogue ways.
It's a moot point, but the UK and French military (overall) would compare favourably to Israel's
Two things:
I'm here for the well-reasoned and thoughtful comments.
I would think that arresting a sitting head of state would be complicated.
He’s not a sitting head of state; he’s a head of government. That means he’s one down the pecking order, though similar considerations would still apply.
He literally flew over the middle of Sardinia! Is that not part of Europe?
Come on Ben
So is Greece. As he wrote they flew over Greece and Italy before changing course to stay clear of France and Spain
Yeah but Italy and Greece are pro-Israel so there was no risk. It's not about Europe, but about political relations.
I don't think this is about the Rome Statute, since Italy and Greece are members. They're not flying over countries that have recognized Palestine in order to avoid paying overflight fees to them. Spain and France have recognized Palestine; Italy and Greece have not.
Then why are El Al flights still flying over France?
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/ELY8/history/20250925/0400Z/KJFK/LLBG
@snic - El Al is mostly privately owned, as the government only had a 15% stake in the company.
It's easier for the plane carrying the PM to make a statement, and that may have been their intention. Meanwhile, I doubt El Al would join in because it would cost them a lot more, unless the government forced them to in a way.
Last time I checked Greece and Italy are part of European air space
Yeah they are European but have not recognized Palestine and are pro-israel so there's no risk for yahoo.
Spain is actually african.
Well he actually flew through Spanish airspace as basically the whole of the straits of Gibraltar (minus the rock) is controlled by Spain.
FIR does not equal sovereign airspace. Countries that are not landlocked will generally provide ATC for some parts of the neighboring international airspace too.
Spain controls land on both sides of the strait, the only country to do so. Therefor Spain’s territorial waters overlap at some point. As a result, crossing the strait requires crossing Spanish waters (or in this case, airspace).
The only place this genocidal monster should be going is The Hague.
Bibi may be a monster but there is no genocide going on in the region, other than Palestinian openly stated goal of killing all Jews.
No one buys the fascist Israeli propaganda anymore, Samo.
The International Association of Genocide Scholars, the United Nations, Amnesty International, Israeli Human Rights organisation B'Tselem, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Physician of Human Rights Israel, the International Criminal Court (ICC), Human Rights Watch and Médecins Sans Frontières all disagree with you. Just to name a few.
When an association everyone can join for 50€ says it's a genocide, and then it's "confirmed" by a committee made of people who openly celebrated October 7, working for organisation known to cooperate with Hamas, it must be true!
Now seriously, the word genocide has a very specific meaning. Truth is not decided by a vote but by facts. And Israeli actions are objectively the exact opposite of genocidal behaviour.
If the Israelis were intent on genocide they could have accomplished it in an afternoon by using their nukes to turn Gaza into a flat sheet of radioactive glass. Failing that, conventional weapons and a ground invasion could have done the job in a week or two. Save your ignorant bluster for the other delusionals in your social media bubble.
Oh Pete and Samo. Time’s up. Except for genocidal Israelis and brainwashed evangelicals, no one else believes this propaganda.
The Hague awaits monsters like yourselves.
BZ, what's the point of arguing with these folks? You know very well that everyone who shouts genocide is branded as a Hamas sympathizer, right? Only Bibi and his supporters tell the truth and nothing but the truth ;-)
You raise a good point Aaron. Can’t wait for Pete or Samo to rant about how South Park is now Khamas
kol kavoad f##k the haters
Shame he won't be arrested at JFK...
cankles mctacoface will probably be there with a band and cheerleaders
As low IQ as ever
What a Snowflake!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION