Russian airlines Aeroflot and Transaero canceled flights to Israel on Wednesday, a day after a rocket fell about a mile away from Tel Aviv's international airport.
Both companies turned back planes heading to Israel on Tuesday due to concerns about safety at Ben Gurion Airport.
The airlines said the planes were not experiencing any technical problems and were rerouted back to Moscow, the Interfax news agency reported.
Last week Israel began a ground invasion of the neighboring Gaza Strip, which the anti-Israeli group Hamas uses as a base to fire rockets and other projectiles into the country.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Hamas deliberately targeted the airport to disrupt air traffic amid the summer holiday season.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration suspended American flights to the airport on Tuesday, citing a "potentially hazardous situation created by the armed conflict in Israel and Gaza," according to an online statement.
However, a spokesman for Israel's El Al airline, which traditionally continues flights during times of war, told The Jerusalem Post that there was "no chance" it would cancel any flights to or from Israel due to the latest strike.
British Airways said it "continues to operate as normal," but will monitor the situation closely, The New York Times reported.
See also:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
