Israeli Flight Forced to Divert as Slovenia Denies Entry

“Whoever tries to boycott us through aviation should understand that there will be consequences,” Regev said.

By United with Israel Staff

A diplomatic and aviation dispute erupted Wednesday after Slovenian authorities reportedly barred an Israeli passenger flight from landing in the country, forcing the aircraft to divert to neighboring Croatia.

Israir Flight 6H755, which was scheduled to land in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, was redirected to Zagreb after Slovenian authorities refused to grant landing approval to the Israeli carrier.

Israir CEO Uri Sirkis described the move as extraordinary and politically motivated, arguing that Slovenia’s refusal was directed at the airline’s Israeli identity rather than any operational or safety concern.

According to Sirkis, the decision constitutes a serious violation of the aviation agreements governing air travel between Israel and the European Union, which are intended to guarantee equal treatment and market access for airlines operating between member states.

The incident triggered an urgent diplomatic effort involving Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Civil Aviation Authority, and other government officials. Despite intensive contacts with Slovenian authorities, Israeli officials have so far been unable to reverse the decision, leaving the flight with no choice but to land in Croatia.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev condemned the move, calling it a political boycott targeting Israeli citizens.

“Whoever tries to boycott us through aviation should understand that there will be consequences,” Regev said, adding that Israel would not remain passive and would use all available tools to respond.

The dispute comes amid increasingly strained relations between Jerusalem and Ljubljana. Slovenia formally recognized a Palestinian state in June 2024 and has since emerged as one of Israel’s most vocal critics within the European Union.

Israeli officials view the refusal to allow the flight to land as part of a broader pattern of political hostility toward Israel that is now affecting civilian transportation and ordinary travelers.

The timing is particularly notable as Slovenia is undergoing a political transition. The current government, which adopted a sharply critical stance toward Israel, is expected to be replaced by a right-leaning coalition led by Janez Janša, a longtime supporter of Israel.

For now, however, Israeli officials are treating the incident as a troubling precedent, warning that denying landing rights to an Israeli airline for political reasons crosses a line that could have broader implications for air travel between Israel and Europe.