dailynewsnblog
140 pieces of checked baggage destined for a flight to Tel Aviv were sabotaged on Monday, February 16, with ‘Free Palestine’ stickers being stuck on the bags. This prompted a security concern, which led to the eventual delay of the EL AL operated flight by almost two hours, as additional security checks were undertaken.
As published Jewish News, the bags were noticed once onboard the scheduled flight, and prompted the unloading of all 140 bags out of an abundance of caution, and saw all bags re-screened individually by airport security to ensure that they have not been laced with any explosives, and due to the time it took to screen these, many of the bags were left behind so the flight could operate.
Bags Left Behind
Jewish carrier EL AL operates a non-stop flight from 
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV). The service, which on February 16, was scheduled to depart as LY6 at 2:00 pm, was eventually pushed back to 3:39 pm, adding a delay of almost one hour and 40 minutes. The flight then arrived in Tel Aviv at 2:45 the next day, one hour behind its expected arrival time of 1:45 pm. Flight data as per Flightradar24.
This sabotage of personal checked baggage led to many passengers becoming upset, with one claiming that it contained a dress for their daughter’s wedding (as per Y Net News). Others were calmer about the situation, noting that it was better for them to arrive safely than ‘the alternative’.
Those who were affected by the baggage missing the flight were notified of this on arrival in Tel Aviv. The bags were eventually finished being screened and were sent on the next day’s flight to Israel.
Free Palestine Sticker Sabotage
Initially, passengers who were departing from Los Angeles had been advised of an unexplained delay to their departing flight of 25 minutes. However, a second annoucement was made that explained there had been a ‘serious issue’ with baggage, which ultimately led to the bags being re-screened and the delay of the flight.
This has raised security concerns as to how the stickers came to be placed on the passengers bags, and queried if the individual(s) could then be trusted in the future to not sabotage other bags, or be ensured that they would not place anything in other travelers bags in the future. Given the current Israel-Gaza conflict, this added additional sensitivity to airline security and growing concern in the community.
The Free Palestine sticker is known as a symbol of the Palestinian people, which calls for the end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and marks solidarity for self-determination, equality, and human rights. Many use this to advocate for peace and justice. However, others can see this as a call to establish a Palestinian state or the removal of the state of Israel.
EL AL United States Operations
EL AL, the flag carrier of Israel, operates a modest network of flights to and from Israel to the United States, supported by the nearly 7.5 million people of Jewish origin (American Jews) who call the US home (data from the Pew Research Centre). As such, EL AL connects several major US cities to Ben Gurion International Airport year-round.
From TLV, El AL flies to 
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (up until April 14), Los Angeles, 
Miami International Airport, 
New York JFK Airport, and 
Newark Liberty International Airport, onboard its fleet of all 
Boeing aircraft. Services to the USA are operated by the Boeing 777-200ER, 787-8 or 787-9 aircraft.
El AL is known as one of the most ‘secure’ airlines in the world, with a multi-layered approach to security. The airline has an intelligence-delivered approach, which includes one-on-one pre-flight interviews that are undertaken with all passengers. Onboard, the airline also appoints undercover armed air marshals, a reinforced cockpit, and an integrated antimissile defense system.
