A flight from Tel Aviv to Istanbul was delayed on Tuesday after several passengers reported receiving images of plane crashes on their cell phones. The pictures are believed to have been distributed using Apple AirDrop.

The AnadoluJet Boeing 737 was taxiing to the runway at Ben Gurion International Airport when passengers raised the alarm. The captain decided to turn back to the terminal, where all passengers were disembarked so that searches of the aircraft and luggage could be completed.

Ben Gurion International Airport has some of the tightest security restrictions in the world. According to the Israel Airports Authority (IAA), security teams proceeded to “take all necessary steps to ensure that there is no danger to passengers.”

The flight was later cleared for take-off and left Tel Aviv for Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen Airport, where it landed safely with a delay of several hours. There were a total of 160 passengers onboard.

Israel photo crash (1)
Photos of Turkish Airlines flight 1951 were among those reportedly shared with other passengers. Photo: Israel Airports Authority via Times of Israel

Turkish Airlines and Asiana Airlines crash pictures shared

The images that were reportedly shared depicted several historic plane crashes, including those of Asiana Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Asiana Airlines flight 214 crashed on landing in San Francisco in 2013, killing three passengers. Turkish Airlines flight 1951 crashed during landing at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in 2009, resulting in the deaths of nine passengers and crew.

Nine suspects from among those onboard were taken in for questioning over the incident. The images are believed to have been sent to other passengers using AirDrop, which allows Apple users to send images and files to other Apple devices in the vicinity. The reason for the images being shared is not yet known.

Israel photo crash (2)
Photos of Asiana Airlines flight 214 that crashed on landing in San Francisco were also reportedly shared. Photo: Israel Airports Authority via Times of Israel

Ofer Lefler, spokesperson for the Israel Airports Authority, is quoted as saying, “I am sure the police and the security authorities will find out why they (the suspects) did it.” According to the IAA, the suspects could be charged with disseminating false information, an offense that carries a maximum prison term of three years in Israel.

This latest incident comes just days after a family attempted to carry an unexploded artillery shell through the airport on their way back to the US, sparking widespread panic as people attempted to flee the airport.

Ben Gurion Airport
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport has exceptionally tight security. Photo: Getty Images

Tel Aviv to Istanbul – a busy and growing market

Tuesday’s flight was operated by AnadoluJet, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines. The airline operates two daily flights between Tel Aviv and Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport. These are in addition to the four daily flights operated by Pegasus Airlines, making it the fifth-busiest route from the Israeli airport in 2021.

Turkish Airlines also currently operates up to six daily flights between Tel Aviv and Istanbul. When looking at both of Istanbul’s airports together, Tel Aviv – Istanbul was the second-busiest city pair from Tel Aviv last year, behind New York.

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