Civilian Drone Breaches Ben-Gurion Airspace, Grounding Flights

A civilian drone penetrated the restricted airspace over Ben-Gurion Airport on Wednesday morning, forcing a halt to takeoffs and landings during one of the field's busiest periods. Normal operations resumed gradually after checks, but the sudden stoppage delayed flights at Israel's main international gateway. Transportation Ministry Director-General Moshe Ben Zaken opened a review into how the drone breached the perimeter of one of the country's most sensitive strategic sites. Officials noted it was not the first time an unauthorized drone had disrupted flights there. The episode sharpened debate over a proposed nationwide ban on civilian drone flights, a measure recently weighed by the security cabinet.