Exactly half of the 160 Israeli passengers who had intended to depart Frankfurt to Israel were able to board the Lufthansa LH690 rescue flight on Tuesday evening. The rest had no choice but to stay in the airport indefinitely.
The remaining 80 passengers were then informed on Wednesday morning that they will be rescued from the airport later in the day, after an uncertain night in the airport. They received their boarding passes about 13 hours after the flight was cancelled.
only 200 Israelis are permitted to enter Israel each day in order to quell the infection rate in the country, and prevent the spread of coronavirus mutations from abroad.
After being told that they wouldn’t be able to board, passengers were looking at flights on Friday, Saturday – or even Sunday and Monday – with no option to leave the airport until then, meaning that the travelers would not make it to Israel in time for Purim.
The original rescue flight was booked for 6 p.m. from Frankfurt on Tuesday night.
At 5:15 p.m., a mere 45 minutes before takeoff, Lufthansa and airport authorities informed the passengers that the Israeli government had changed its requirements, but it remained unclear what those changes were and how they affected the passengers.
Another hour passed before all the baggage of those who remained was taken off the aircraft, which then took off for Israel.
The chaos that ensued allowed 80 passengers to board the aircraft, leaving the other 80 to fend for themselves in the airport with very limited food and supplies, and no information about their next move. Lufthansa provided them with thin blankets.
But that wasn’t all they needed. Passengers were told that they needed to present the health declaration form that people who arrive in Israel are required to fill out upon entry.
It is unclear from which side the miscommunication originated, but it resulted in 80 people locked in an airport – some elderly, some with medical necessities, and all during a global pandemic.
