Bharatwiki Socrates: Created page with "{{Short description|Flag carrier airline of Israel}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2026}} {{Infobox airline | airline = El Al Israel Airlines | native_name = {{lang|he|אל על נתיבי אוויר לישראל בע״מ}} | image = | caption = | IATA = LY | ICAO = ELY | callsign = EL AL | founded = {{Start date and age|1948|11|15|df=y}} | commenced = {{Start date|1948|09|29|df=y}} (inaugural flight) | hubs = Ben Gurion Airport | frequent_flyer = Matmid | fleet_s..."

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Created page with "{{Short description|Flag carrier airline of Israel}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2026}} {{Infobox airline | airline = El Al Israel Airlines | native_name = {{lang|he|אל על נתיבי אוויר לישראל בע״מ}} | image = | caption = | IATA = LY | ICAO = ELY | callsign = EL AL | founded = {{Start date and age|1948|11|15|df=y}} | commenced = {{Start date|1948|09|29|df=y}} (inaugural flight) | hubs = Ben Gurion Airport | frequent_flyer = Matmid | fleet_s..."

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{{Short description|Flag carrier airline of Israel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2026}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = El Al Israel Airlines
| native_name = {{lang|he|אל על נתיבי אוויר לישראל בע״מ}}
| image =
| caption =
| IATA = LY
| ICAO = ELY
| callsign = EL AL
| founded = {{Start date and age|1948|11|15|df=y}}
| commenced = {{Start date|1948|09|29|df=y}} (inaugural flight)
| hubs = [[Ben Gurion Airport]]
| frequent_flyer = Matmid
| fleet_size = 51
| destinations = 49
| parent = Knafaim Holdings Ltd.
| headquarters = [[Ben Gurion Airport]], [[Lod]], Israel
| key_people = Levy Halevy (CEO)<br>Amikam Ben Zvi (Chairman)
| revenue = {{increase}} US$3.48 billion (2025)
| operating_income = {{decrease}} US$947 million (EBITDAR, 2025)
| net_income = {{decrease}} US$410 million (2025)
| employees = 3,169 (2025)
| website = {{URL|https://www.elal.com}}
}}

'''El Al Israel Airlines Ltd.''' ({{langx|he|אל על נתיבי אוויר לישראל בע״מ}}; {{langx|ar|إل عال}}), trading as '''El Al''' ({{langx|he|אל על}}, "To the Skies" or "Skywards"), is the [[flag carrier]] of [[Israel]].<ref name="apg">{{cite web |title=EL AL Israel Airlines |url=https://apg-ga.sg/airlines/el-al-israel-airlines/ |website=APG |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> Founded on 15 November 1948, the airline operates scheduled domestic and international passenger and cargo services from its hub at [[Ben Gurion Airport]] near [[Tel Aviv]], serving destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.<ref name="elal_overview">{{cite web |title=Company Overview |url=http://www.elal.co.il/NR/rdonlyres/2D943294-0735-4E30-9C7C-9FCDA40B23E7/0/FactSheet20092final.pdf |publisher=El Al Israel Airlines |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> El Al is widely regarded as one of the world's most secure airlines due to its stringent security protocols, which include armed plainclothes sky marshals on every flight, reinforced cockpit doors, extensive passenger interrogations, and onboard missile defence systems.<ref name="aeroin_security">{{cite web |title=Companhia aérea mais protegida do mundo adota medidas extremas de segurança antes e durante os voos |url=https://aeroin.net/companhia-aerea-mais-protegida-do-mundo-adota-medidas-extremas-de-seguranca-antes-e-durante-os-voos/ |work=Aeroin |date=18 January 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref><ref name="elpais_security">{{cite news |title=Attempted hijacking of Tel Aviv-bound plane revives specter of threat dating back to the 1970s |url=https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-09-30/attempted-hijacking-of-tel-aviv-bound-plane-revives-specter-of-threat-dating-back-to-the-1970s.html |work=[[El País]] |date=30 September 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Founding and early years (1948–1960s) ===
El Al was incorporated as a limited company on 15 November 1948 and officially inaugurated its service with a flight from [[Geneva]] to [[Tel Aviv]] in September 1948, carrying [[Chaim Weizmann]], Israel's first president, back from a conference in Switzerland.<ref name="nli_1948">{{cite web |title=El Al Poster for 25th Independence Day, 1973 |url=https://education-en.nli.org.il/poster-competition/recutk016NfncgiaH |publisher=[[National Library of Israel]] |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref><ref name="haaretz_firstflight">{{cite news |title=This Day in Jewish History: 1948: El Al takes wing, not that it existed yet |url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2016-09-28/ty-article/.premium/this-day-in-jewish-history-1948-el-al-takes-wing-not-that-it-existed-yet/0000017f-e6f3-df5f-a17f-fffaf2ba0000 |work=[[Haaretz]] |date=28 September 2016 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> The name "El Al" comes from the [[Book of Hosea]] (11:7) and means "upward" or "to the skies."<ref name="nli_1948"/> The airline commenced scheduled services to Rome, Paris, London, and Zurich in 1949.<ref name="nli_1948"/> El Al became Israel's official flag carrier and was initially fully owned by the state.<ref name="elal_overview"/>

=== Rescue operations and expansion (1949–1990s) ===
El Al played a central role in several major rescue operations that airlifted Jews from around the world to Israel. [[Operation Magic Carpet (Yemen)|Operation Magic Carpet]] (1949–1950) brought approximately 47,000 Yemenite Jews and 3,000 Habbani Jews from the Arabian Peninsula to Israel.<ref name="nli_1948"/> [[Operation Ezra and Nehemiah]] (1950–1951) airlifted 113,000 Jews from Iraq to Israel.<ref name="elal_story">{{cite web |title=EL AL – Israel's Star in the Skies: The story of an airline, the history of the country |url=https://www.elal.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/About-ELAL/ELAL-exibition-2011for-ELAL-site.pdf |publisher=El Al Israel Airlines |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> In the 1990s, El Al participated in [[Operation Exodus]], which brought hundreds of thousands of Jews from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe to Israel.<ref name="nli_1948"/> [[Operation Solomon]] (1991) rescued thousands of Ethiopian Jews, with one El Al Boeing 747 setting an all-time record by carrying 1,087 passengers on a single flight.<ref name="nli_1948"/><ref name="guinness_record">{{cite web |title=Most passengers on an aircraft |url=https://guinnessworldrecords.de |publisher=[[Guinness World Records]] |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

El Al operated an all-Boeing fleet since its founding, with many aircraft named after Israeli cities.<ref name="apg"/> The airline's first nonstop New York–Tel Aviv flight on a Boeing 707 in June 1961 set a long-distance record for commercial passenger service.<ref name="elal_story"/> In 1961, El Al introduced its first jet aircraft, and by the 1970s it operated a fleet that included Boeing 707s, 720s, and 747s.<ref name="elal_story"/>

=== Privatisation (2003–2005) ===
Until June 2004, El Al was a "government corporation" in the process of privatisation.<ref name="elal_2006report">{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2006 |url=https://www.elal.com/SiteCollectionImages/Investor_Relations/Financial_Information/2006/Financial_Report/Annual%20Report%202006%20EN.pdf |publisher=El Al Israel Airlines |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> The first phase of privatisation commenced in June 2003 with an initial public offering of 15% of shares on the [[Tel Aviv Stock Exchange]].<ref name="jta_privatisation">{{cite news |title=Privatization Lifts El Al Hopes for Higher Profits, More Services |url=https://www.jta.org/2005/07/06/news-opinion/privatization-lifts-el-al-hopes-for-higher-profits-more-services |work=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |date=6 July 2005 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> By January 2005, a controlling share had been transferred to Knafaim-Arkia Holdings Ltd., ending the national airline's era as a state-owned corporation.<ref name="haaretz_privatisation">{{cite news |title=Borovich brothers officially assume control of El Al, end state-owned era |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2004-12-24/ty-article/borovich-brothers-officially-assume-control-of-el-al-end-state-owned-era/0000017f-e0b0-df5f-a17f-fbb8f76f0000 |work=[[Haaretz]] |date=24 December 2004 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> The State of Israel retained a Special State Share and approximately 1.1% of the share capital.<ref name="elal_ownership">{{cite web |title=Ownership and Legal Structure |url=https://www.elal.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/About-ELAL/ELAL-CR-2014-15.pdf |publisher=El Al Israel Airlines |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

=== Recent developments (2020s) ===
The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted El Al, with the airline reporting losses of $530 million in 2020 and $413 million in 2021.<ref name="globes_2021loss">{{cite news |title=El Al 2021 losses narrow but remain large |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-el-al-2021-losses-narrow-but-remain-large-1001394226 |work=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]] |date=3 March 2022 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> The airline recovered strongly in subsequent years, posting record revenues of $3.43 billion and a net profit of $545 million in 2024, driven by high demand and the suspension of most foreign airlines' operations to Israel during regional conflicts.<ref name="timesofisrael_2024profit">{{cite news |title=El Al posts record-high $545 million profit in 2024, following wartime near-monopoly |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/el-al-posts-record-high-545-million-profit-in-2024-following-wartime-near-monopoly/ |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |date=12 March 2025 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> In 2025, El Al reported revenues of approximately $3.48 billion and a net profit of $410 million, a 25% decline from the previous year as foreign airlines gradually returned to Israel.<ref name="port2port_2025">{{cite news |title=El Al 2025 Financial Results: Net Profit Hits $410M Despite Yield Erosion |url=https://en.port2port.co.il/article/Air-Transport/Airlines/El-Al-2025-Financial-Results-Net-Profit-Hits-410M-Despite-Yield-Erosion/ |work=Port2Port |date=25 February 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

In December 2025, Dina Ben Tal Ganancia stepped down as CEO after three years in the position, during which she became the first woman to head El Al and led the airline to record profits.<ref name="globes_ceo">{{cite news |title=Ex El Al CEO denies price gouging |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-ex-el-al-ceo-denies-price-gouging-1001542167 |work=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]] |date=9 April 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> Levy Halevy assumed the role of CEO in January 2026.<ref name="flightglobal_ceo">{{cite news |title=El Al identifies date for chief executive succession |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/el-al-identifies-date-for-chief-executive-succession/151469.article |work=[[FlightGlobal]] |date=12 January 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

== Fleet ==
As of April 2026, El Al operates an all-Boeing fleet of 51 aircraft:<ref name="flightglobal_787order">{{cite news |title=El Al hands Boeing an order for another six 787s |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fleets/2026/04/el-al-hands-boeing-an-order-for-another-six-787s/ |work=[[FlightGlobal]] |date=16 April 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
|+ El Al fleet (as of April 2026)
|-
! Aircraft
! In service
! Orders
! Passengers
! Notes
|-
| [[Boeing 737-800]]
| 16
| —
| 154–189
|
|-
| [[Boeing 737-900ER]]
| 8
| —
| 175–189
|
|-
| [[Boeing 737 MAX]]
| —
| 20
| TBA
| Deliveries from 2028; order for up to 31<ref name="aviationbusinessnews_737max">{{cite news |title=Israel's EL AL boosts fleet with deal for 737 MAX jets |url=https://www.aviationbusinessnews.com/industry-news/israels-el-al-boosts-fleet-with-deal-for-737-max-jets/ |work=Aviation Business News |date=15 June 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>
|-
| [[Boeing 777-200ER]]
| 6
| —
| 313
| Cabin refurbishment ongoing<ref name="flightglobal_777refurb">{{cite news |title=El Al to refurbish all six 777s by first quarter of 2027 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fleets/2026/03/el-al-to-refurbish-all-six-777s-by-first-quarter-of-2027/ |work=[[FlightGlobal]] |date=4 March 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>
|-
| [[Boeing 787-8]]
| 4
| —
| 238
|
|-
| [[Boeing 787-9]]
| 13
| 11
| 282
| Fleet to grow to 28 by 2030<ref name="aerotime_787order">{{cite news |title=El Al to buy up to 12 more Boeing 787s |url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/el-al-buy-up-to-12-more-boeing-787s |work=AeroTime |date=16 April 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>
|-
| [[Boeing 737-800|Boeing 737-800BCF]]
| 1
| —
| Cargo
| Operated by El Al Cargo<ref name="flightglobal_freighter">{{cite news |title=El Al explores acquisition of widebody freighter as part of fleet expansion plan |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fleets/2025/03/el-al-explores-acquisition-of-widebody-freighter-as-part-of-fleet-expansion-plan/ |work=[[FlightGlobal]] |date=12 March 2025 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>
|-
! Total
! 51
! 31
!
!
|}

El Al placed its largest-ever aircraft order in August 2024, finalising an agreement for up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX jets valued at up to $2.5 billion, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028.<ref name="xinhua_737max">{{cite news |title=EL AL Israel Airlines finalizes order for up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX jets |url=https://english.news.cn/northamerica/20240816/171c027d6e7e46a7b0e7e1e3719c04c4/c.html |work=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |date=16 August 2024 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> In April 2026, the airline ordered an additional six Boeing 787-9s and secured options for six more, with deliveries expected between 2030 and 2032.<ref name="flightglobal_787order"/> El Al's strategic plan aims to grow its passenger fleet to 61 aircraft by 2030, carrying an estimated 7.6 million travellers annually.<ref name="flightglobal_freighter"/>

== Destinations ==
El Al serves approximately 49 destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America from its hub at [[Ben Gurion Airport]].<ref name="trip_destinations">{{cite web |title=El Al - Flights, Reviews and Ticket Deals |url=https://us.trip.com |publisher=Trip.com |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> The airline has announced significant network expansion in recent years, adding new routes to [[Hanoi]], [[Seoul]], [[Manila]], [[San Francisco]], [[Buenos Aires]], [[Copenhagen]], and several European leisure destinations including [[Catania]], [[Cagliari]], [[Basel]], [[Zagreb]], and [[Dubrovnik]].<ref name="airways_sanfrancisco">{{cite news |title=El Al Expands US Network with San Francisco Route |url=https://www.airwaysmag.com/new-post/el-al-expands-us-network |work=Airways Magazine |date=2 June 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref><ref name="xinhua_manila">{{cite news |title=Israel's national airline launches 1st-ever direct flights to Philippines |url=https://english.news.cn/20260208/4c4c2a79c8a340aca19861e2a317609e/c.html |work=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |date=8 February 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

In the United States, El Al operates flights to six destinations: [[New York City|New York]] ([[John F. Kennedy International Airport|JFK]] and [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]]), [[Miami]], [[Boston]], [[Los Angeles]], and [[San Francisco]].<ref name="airways_sanfrancisco"/> The airline's long-haul network also includes [[Bangkok]], [[Phuket City|Phuket]], [[Tokyo]], and [[Buenos Aires]].<ref name="airways_sanfrancisco"/>

== Security ==
El Al maintains some of the strictest security measures of any commercial airline in the world, a direct response to decades of terrorist threats and attacks targeting Israeli aviation.<ref name="aeroin_security"/><ref name="elpais_security"/> These measures include:

* '''Armed plainclothes sky marshals''' on every flight, trained to respond to hijacking attempts and terrorist incidents.<ref name="aeroin_security"/>
* '''Reinforced cockpit doors''' featuring a double-door system with an interlocking mechanism, making unauthorised entry extremely difficult.<ref name="aeroin_security"/>
* '''Extensive passenger interrogations''' conducted by El Al's own security staff at departure airports, with travellers who raise suspicion subject to additional screening.<ref name="elpais_security"/>
* '''Onboard missile defence systems''': El Al was the first commercial airline to equip its aircraft with the Flight Guard system, which detects and diverts surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS). In 2014, it incorporated the Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS).<ref name="aeroin_security"/>
* '''Reinforced cockpit floors''' made of steel to prevent passengers from breaking through to the cargo compartment.<ref name="aeroin_security"/>
* '''Vehicle inspections and 24-hour camera surveillance''' at Ben Gurion Airport, with all vehicles entering the airport complex subject to rigorous inspection by armed agents.<ref name="aeroin_security"/>
* '''Advanced baggage screening''' using computerised tomography scanners, X-ray machines, and pressure chambers designed to detonate potential explosives.<ref name="aeroin_security"/>

The airline also complies with the [[IATA Operational Safety Audit]] (IOSA) standards and has been recognised as one of the world's safest airlines by multiple publications.<ref name="elal_iosа">{{cite web |title=IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) |url=https://www.elal.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/About-ELAL/ELAL_FS2016_isa.pdf |publisher=El Al Israel Airlines |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> Only one El Al flight has ever been successfully hijacked — [[El Al Flight 426]] in 1968 — and that incident resulted in no fatalities.<ref name="esisc_hijacking">{{cite web |title=What the Flight 253 Case Teaches Us on Air Security and Al-Qaeda |url=https://www.esisc.org |publisher=European Strategic Intelligence and Security Center |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

== Subsidiaries ==
El Al's subsidiaries include:<ref name="reuters_subsidiaries">{{cite web |title=EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES LTD. (ELAL.TA) |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/ELAL.TA/ |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

* '''Sun d'Or International Airlines''': A wholly-owned charter and scheduled airline established in 1977, operating regular, ad-hoc, and seasonal passenger services to destinations throughout Europe.<ref name="capa_sundor">{{cite web |title=Sun d'Or International Airlines |url=https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/sun-dor-international-airlines |publisher=CAPA |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>
* '''El Al Cargo''': The airline's cargo division, operating belly cargo on passenger flights and a Boeing 737-800BCF freighter. In 2025, El Al's cargo revenue totalled approximately $141.5 million.<ref name="port2port_cargo">{{cite news |title=El Al 2025 Financial Results: Net Profit Hits $410M Despite Yield Erosion |url=https://en.port2port.co.il/article/Air-Transport/Airlines/El-Al-2025-Financial-Results-Net-Profit-Hits-410M-Despite-Yield-Erosion/ |work=Port2Port |date=25 February 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>
* '''Superstar Holidays''': A tourist wholesaler marketing package deals to travel agents and passengers.<ref name="reuters_subsidiaries"/>
* '''Tamam-Catering''': Provides food and Kosher meals complying with Jewish dietary laws.<ref name="reuters_subsidiaries"/>

El Al is not a member of any of the three global airline alliances ([[Star Alliance]], [[Oneworld]], or [[SkyTeam]]).<ref name="chaviation_delta">{{cite news |title=Delta Air Lines, El Al ink strategic partnership agreement |url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/129127-delta-air-lines-el-al-ink-strategic-partnership-agreement |work=CH-Aviation |date=4 July 2023 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> However, it maintains codeshare agreements with several airlines, including [[Delta Air Lines]], [[American Airlines]], [[JetBlue]], [[TAROM]], and [[LOT Polish Airlines]].<ref name="chaviation_delta"/><ref name="staralliance_tarom">{{cite news |title=El Al and Romania's TAROM launch codeshare, boosting Tel Aviv-Bucharest flights |url=https://portal.staralliance.com |work=Star Alliance |date=18 March 2025 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

== Financial performance ==
El Al's financial performance has been volatile, reflecting the impact of regional conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and fluctuating competition:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
|+ El Al financial results (2019–2025)
|-
! Year
! Revenue (US$ bn)
! Net profit/loss (US$ m)
! Notes
|-
| 2019
| 2.18
| (77)
| Pre-pandemic<ref name="elal_2006report"/>
|-
| 2020
| 0.62
| (530)
| COVID-19 impact<ref name="globes_2021loss"/>
|-
| 2021
| 0.86
| (413)
| Continued pandemic impact<ref name="globes_2021loss"/>
|-
| 2022
| 1.99
| 109
| Recovery begins<ref name="xinhua_2023revenue">{{cite news |title=Israel's flagship airline records all-time high revenue in 2023 |url=https://english.news.cn/20240301/ffef5fb261ee4075ad618bcc56e4b7f4/c.html |work=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |date=1 March 2024 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>
|-
| 2023
| 2.50
| 117
| Record revenue at the time<ref name="xinhua_2023revenue"/>
|-
| 2024
| 3.43
| 545
| Record profit; wartime near-monopoly<ref name="timesofisrael_2024profit"/>
|-
| 2025
| 3.48
| 410
| Foreign airlines return; profit decline<ref name="port2port_2025"/>
|}

El Al's market capitalisation on the [[Tel Aviv Stock Exchange]] (TASE: ELAL) was approximately [[New Israeli Shekel|₪]]10.0 billion as of August 2026, with a share price of around ₪16.90.<ref name="simplywallst_marketcap">{{cite web |title=El Al Israel Airlines (TASE:ELAL) Stock Report |url=https://simplywall.st/stocks/il/transportation/tase-elal/el-al-israel-airlines-shares |publisher=Simply Wall St |date=28 August 2026 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

== Incidents and accidents ==

=== El Al Flight 426 hijacking (1968) ===
{{main|El Al Flight 426}}
On 23 July 1968, [[El Al Flight 426]], a Boeing 707 en route from Rome to Tel Aviv, was hijacked by three members of the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]] (PFLP) and diverted to [[Algiers]], [[Algeria]].<ref name="rand_hijacking">{{cite web |title=The Hijacking of El Al Flight 426 |url=https://www.rand.org |publisher=[[RAND Corporation]] |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> The hijackers demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The ordeal lasted 40 days and ended with the release of 16 Palestinian prisoners, which Israel described as a "humanitarian gesture."<ref name="nytimes_1968hijacking">{{cite news |title=Middle East; A Hijacked Plane Stirs New Tensions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/07/28/archives/middle-east-a-hijacked-plane-stirs-new-tensions.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=28 July 1968 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> This incident is considered the only successful hijacking involving an El Al jet.<ref name="esisc_hijacking"/>

=== Attempted hijacking of El Al Flight 219 (1970) ===
On 6 September 1970, [[El Al Flight 219]], a Boeing 707 flying from Tel Aviv to New York via Amsterdam, was targeted by two hijackers — [[Leila Khaled]] and Patrick Argüello — as part of the [[Dawson's Field hijackings]].<ref name="nytimes_1970hijacking">{{cite news |title=4 Jets Hijacked |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/07/archives/4-jets-hijacked-one-a-747-is-blown-up-arab-group-says-it-took.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=7 September 1970 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> The hijackers were overpowered by El Al security personnel and passengers. Argüello was shot and killed by an El Al sky marshal, and Khaled was subdued and arrested upon landing at [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref name="time_dawson">{{cite news |title=World: Drama of the Desert: The Week of the Hostages |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,876538,00.html |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=21 September 1970 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> One steward was seriously injured during the struggle.<ref name="paperspast_1970">{{cite web |title=Brave Steward |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz |publisher=Papers Past |date=28 September 1970 |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

=== Munich airport attack (1970) ===
On 10 February 1970, three terrorists attacked El Al passengers in a bus at [[Munich-Riem Airport]] with guns and grenades. One passenger, engineer Ari Katzenstein, was killed, and 11 others were injured, including Israeli actress [[Hanna Maron]].<ref name="state_gov_munich">{{cite web |title=Significant Terrorist Incidents, 1961-2003: A Brief Chronology |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/pubs/fs/59015.htm |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref>

=== El Al Flight 1862 crash (1992) ===
{{main|El Al Flight 1862}}
On 4 October 1992, [[El Al Flight 1862]], a Boeing 747-200F cargo aircraft, crashed into the Bijlmermeer neighbourhood of [[Amsterdam]] shortly after takeoff from [[Schiphol Airport]].<ref name="faa_1862">{{cite web |title=El Al Flight 1862, 4X-AXG |url=https://www.faa.gov/lessons_learned/transport_airplane/accidents/4X-AXG |publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] |access-date=3 October 2026}}</ref> The crash occurred after both engines on the right wing separated from the aircraft during climb-out.<ref name="faa_1862"/> All four people on board were killed, along with 43 people on the ground.<ref name="faa_1862"/> The accident led to industry-wide changes in engine strut design philosophy.<ref name="faa_1862"/>

== See also ==
* [[List of airlines of Israel]]
* [[Ben Gurion Airport]]
* [[Sun d'Or International Airlines]]
* [[El Al Flight 426]]
* [[El Al Flight 1862]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.elal.com Official website]
* [https://news.flydubai.com/updates-on-fz-1073-dxb-tlv-on-30-september-2026 Flydubai FZ1073 updates]

{{Israel airlines}}
{{IATA members}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:El Al| ]]
[[Category:Airlines of Israel]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1948]]
[[Category:IATA members]]
[[Category:Israeli brands]]
[[Category:Companies based in Lod]]
[[Category:Government-owned companies of Israel]]
[[Category:1948 establishments in Israel]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Israeli companies established in 1948]]

El Al - Revision history