Saudia A333 Diverts To TLV?

JoKeR · Wed May 06, 2015 1:50 pm

A Saudi (leased I presume) A333 diverted to TLV due to technical issues apparently.

A strange diversion for SV considering the proximity of BEY, LCA and AMM, but nevertheless, interesting visitor no doubt...

PlaneAdmirer · Wed May 06, 2015 1:55 pm

Welcome to TLV!!! Visit and come again!!!

SonomaFlyer · Wed May 06, 2015 1:55 pm

I frankly think that fact they asked to divert to TLV and Israel allowed it to happen is a good sign. Hopefully we'll see a thawing of relations down the road and more cooperation on at least aviation matters in the region.

jetwet1 · Wed May 06, 2015 2:09 pm

Quoting SonomaFlyer (Reply 2):
I frankly think that fact they asked to divert to TLV and Israel allowed it to happen is a good sign. Hopefully we'll see a thawing of relations down the road and more cooperation on at least aviation matters in the region.

Not really, a commercial airliner has an issue, it needs to get on the ground, the only place where I can think off the top of my head there would be an issue is North Korea, we have seen many times countries allowing passenger aircraft from "Enemy countries" landing, probably the most famous being a Northwest flight into THR.

Quoting JoKeR (Thread starter):
A strange diversion for SV considering the proximity of BEY, LCA and AMM

That's the strange part about it, why go into TLV when BEY is right up the road ?

BestWestern · Wed May 06, 2015 2:10 pm

Good to see that the Pilots had the maps!

In some ways, The enemy of their enemy should be their friend.

migair54 · Wed May 06, 2015 2:12 pm

TLV has good technical facilities, so it´s possible they diverted there because they can get mx on site and they will be able to solve the problem without having to send spares and technicians to any other airport.

Are you sure it is diverted and not a schedule technical visit??

3 of the SV A330 are leased from Onur Air, TC-OCA/B/C, quite old A333, but I can´t see the registration in the pic, but given the livery it could be one of them easily.

JoKeR · Wed May 06, 2015 2:19 pm

Quoting migair54 (Reply 5):
Are you sure it is diverted and not a schedule technical visit??

That's why I put the question mark in the thread title. I'm not, and that's why I said that it could be leased - possibly as you say from Onur Air... but it still is quite a sight nevertheless - SV in TLV...

MVAair · Wed May 06, 2015 2:20 pm

Quoting SonomaFlyer (Reply 2):
I frankly think that fact they asked to divert to TLV and Israel allowed it to happen is a good sign. Hopefully we'll see a thawing of relations down the road and more cooperation on at least aviation matters in the region.

The enemy (Israel)of my enemy(Iran) is my friend.................

LY777 · Wed May 06, 2015 2:21 pm

Quoting migair54 (Reply 5):
3 of the SV A330 are leased from Onur Air, TC-OCA/B/C, quite old A333, but I can´t see the registration in the pic, but given the livery it could be one of them easily.

No, the reg is CS-TMT

SCQ83 · Wed May 06, 2015 2:22 pm

Quoting SonomaFlyer (Reply 2):

Definitely it is kind of awkward... I wonder if it was just by chance.

In any case I can't imagine what would an aware anutter think by seeing a Saudia plane in Tel Aviv of all places!

ec99 · Wed May 06, 2015 2:23 pm

Quoting migair54 (Reply 5):
TLV has good technical facilities, so it´s possible they diverted there because they can get mx on site and they will be able to solve the problem without having to send spares and technicians to any other airport

I'm not an expert but if this was the case I think Saudia would have needed to contract for foreign pilots to fly the plane into TLV. I don't think a Saudia national can get permission to visit Israel just like Saudia Arabia doesn’t let Israeli's into the Kingdom. A possibility for sure but seems like might be more trouble than its worth since the airline would need to send a foreigner both to drop the plane off and pick it up.

B8887 · Wed May 06, 2015 2:30 pm

This is so cool!...

Not in full livery but definitely unique.

Regards.

B8887

migair54 · Wed May 06, 2015 2:48 pm

Quoting LY777 (Reply 8):
No, the reg is CS-TMT

Hi-Fly plane then, http://www.hifly.aero/en/a330/cs-tmt

georgiaame · Wed May 06, 2015 2:56 pm

Quoting SonomaFlyer (Reply 2):
I frankly think that fact they asked to divert to TLV and Israel allowed it to happen is a good sign

It's hardly a "sign". It speaks mountains regarding the current state of politics in the Middle East. Not a peep of anti-Israel propaganda or anti-Zioinist propaganda from the Kingdom for months! It is no accident that the diversion was as low keyed as it was.

ly7e7 · Wed May 06, 2015 3:30 pm

From what I've heard this was not a diversion but a scheduled mx by IAI/Bedek plant. The company that brought the a/c into TLV is not SV but a third party.

b747400erf · Wed May 06, 2015 3:31 pm

Quoting SonomaFlyer (Reply 2):
I frankly think that fact they asked to divert to TLV and Israel allowed it to happen is a good sign. Hopefully we'll see a thawing of relations down the road and more cooperation on at least aviation matters in the region.

Both countries have had friendly relations behind the scenes and cooperation in the economy and military for many years. It is not a public relationship because the citizens of the region hate Jews and would be outraged, but this is not a sign of anything, probably because it looks like a Hifly airplane stopping for service after a lease.

UAEflyer · Wed May 06, 2015 3:51 pm

This is not SV aircraft according to most of the replies here, I think it was there and the logo will be removed so fast or it will put the owners into deep trouble with the Saudi Government

B8887 · Wed May 06, 2015 3:57 pm

Quoting UAEflyer (Reply 16):
This is not SV aircraft according to most of the replies here, I think it was there and the logo will be removed so fast or it will put the owners into deep trouble with the Saudi Government

I do not think its owners are in any trouble whatsoever as the aircraft is registered in Western Europe. I'd be curious to know where it took off from though... Anyone knows?...

Regards.

B8887

mayor · Wed May 06, 2015 4:31 pm

Considering the way things usually go and the fact that the Saudis don't admit the existence of Israel, I'm surprised they could find the airport.

Ronaldo747 · Wed May 06, 2015 4:53 pm

Just saw at Twitter that it was a medical diversion.

777way · Wed May 06, 2015 5:00 pm

Quoting mayor (Reply 18):

Its a Portugese plane flown by Portugese pilots, just sporting basic SV branding, even if in full livery its not a Saudi plane with no Saudi's onboard, why it was allowed to fly for maintenece with SV logo and title should be looked into, unless Saudi authority allowed it, which shows their hypocricy.

Viper911 · Wed May 06, 2015 5:25 pm

It was not a diversion. The aircraft landed for scheduled maintenance check at Bedek facilities at TLV. The aircraft is not owned by SV but it is leased to the airline.

Viper911.

32andBelow · Wed May 06, 2015 5:44 pm

Quoting Ronaldo747 (Reply 19):

Just saw at Twitter that it was a medical diversion.

They didn't want to go to some of the other fine medical facilities of their allies?!

klwright69 · Wed May 06, 2015 6:14 pm

There is no way in the hottest part of hell is this a diversion. SV does not overfly Israel or even come close to Israel. Most SV flights I have taken to Europe and North America fly right over Cairo actually.

It is clearly being operated by a 3rd party. Clearly there is a story behind this. But it is a cool image nonetheless.

But to even suggest this is a real Saudia flight operated by a real Saudia crew is utter nonsense.

DolphinAir747 · Wed May 06, 2015 6:51 pm

Has LY ever had to divert to any Middle Eastern countries excluding Egypt/Jordan/Turkey? What would happen if they had to?

egph · Wed May 06, 2015 7:02 pm

http://www.albawaba.com/news/empty-saudi-plane-lands-israel-691328

As Viper911 said this is was a ferry flight for routine maintenance. Plane flew in from BRU with Hi-Fly crew at the controls.

A388 · Wed May 06, 2015 7:14 pm

The moment I saw the picture of that all-white A330 I knew this wasn't a regular SV flight but a flight operated by another airline flying on behalf of SV. In this case there should be no problem or issue for it to land/depart in TLV. In this case, it apparently is an aircraft owned and operated by HiFly which is Portuguese so this isn't SV themselves.

A388

777way · Wed May 06, 2015 7:20 pm

Why werent SV logo and all removed? did they do it on purpose?

CPH-R · Wed May 06, 2015 8:47 pm

Quoting DolphinAir747 (Reply 24):

I can't possibly imagine a situation that would require such a diversion, where a diversion to a friendly country wasn't also a possibility.

futureorthopod · Wed May 06, 2015 9:11 pm

Quoting SonomaFlyer (Reply 2):

I frankly think that fact they asked to divert to TLV and Israel allowed it to happen is a good sign. Hopefully we'll see a thawing of relations down the road and more cooperation on at least aviation matters in the region.

Well...they also have a common enemy in Iran!

ORDTLV2414 · Wed May 06, 2015 9:24 pm

Welcome to TLV. It is a good sign that pilots who probably asked SV corporate diverted to TLV instead of BEI.
Hope to see SV on a regular basis.

777way · Wed May 06, 2015 9:25 pm

It wasnt a diversion it went there for maintainence from Brussels, why was it carrying SV branding when this happened, is the question.

ORDTLV2414 · Wed May 06, 2015 9:28 pm

Quoting 777way (Reply 31):
It wasnt a diversion it went there for maintainence from Brussels, why was it carrying SV branding when this happened, is the question.

Well in that case, SV will be having someones head.

hz747300 · Wed May 06, 2015 11:35 pm

Quoting EGPH (Reply 25):
As Viper911 said this is was a ferry flight for routine maintenance. Plane flew in from BRU with Hi-Fly crew at the controls.

Funny, regardless how many times it's stated it's like no one believes it. I do find it odd that the branding was left on, but this was flown from Brussels, with a Portuguese crew, so parties that do not really give a toss that the two countries do not officially recognise each other.

Anyways, if it is regular maintenance and the play is still to fly on behalf of SV, then what likely has to happen is that it would have to fly to a third party nation first, before flying to Saudi Arabia, ie, TLV-ATH-JED.

Quoting CPH-R (Reply 28):
I can't possibly imagine a situation that would require such a diversion, where a diversion to a friendly country wasn't also a possibility.

Well, we know from the leaked cables on Julian Asange's website, Wikileaks, that while not overtly friendly, there were communications between KSA and Israel regarding their Iran problem. So whilst historically much saber rattling in public from Riyadh, behind the scenes they seemed to have taken a much more considered view.

DolphinAir747 · Wed May 06, 2015 11:41 pm

Quoting CPH-R (Reply 28):
I can't possibly imagine a situation that would require such a diversion, where a diversion to a friendly country wasn't also a possibility.

Most of LY's flights to South and Southeast Asia (BOM, BKK, HKG) go due south from TLV over the Red Sea and are therefore very close to the Saudi coastline.

flyingwithfish · Thu May 07, 2015 2:26 am

Quoting jetwet1 (Reply 3):

Quoting jetwet1 (Reply 3):
we have seen many times countries allowing passenger aircraft from "Enemy countries" landing, probably the most famous being a Northwest flight into THR.

This is exactly what came to mind. If a commercial aircraft is in trouble and needs to put its wheels down, it is not a question of politics, ATC helps that plane get on the ground safely.

[Edited 2015-05-06 19:27:37]

AirIndia · Thu May 07, 2015 3:57 am

http://www.avherald.com/h?article=485d4c2a&opt=0

Quote:
The "hapless" A330-300 carrying just two crew was completing its flight normally, that had been planned from Brussels (Belgium) to Tel Aviv (Israel), the aircraft is to undergo maintenance in Tel Aviv.

IAI confirmed the HiFly Airbus A330-300 registration CS-TMT, leased out to Saudia, positioned from Brussels to Tel Aviv to receive maintenance at their IAI maintenance facility at Tel Aviv under the contract, IAI has with the European operator of the aircraft.

agrflyer · Thu May 07, 2015 6:00 am

a cool sight indeed. I was suprised when I saw the plane coming in yesterday while being TLV. I hope I see the plane at Ben Gurion Airport when I have my flight back home to ZRH later today.

Aesma · Thu May 07, 2015 7:27 am

Quoting B747400ERF (Reply 15):
Both countries have had friendly relations behind the scenes and cooperation in the economy and military for many years. It is not a public relationship because the citizens of the region hate Jews and would be outraged, but this is not a sign of anything, probably because it looks like a Hifly airplane stopping for service after a lease.

Jews and Israel are not the same thing.

777way · Thu May 07, 2015 1:21 pm

Quoting ORDTLV2414 (Reply 32):

Yes Saudi govt. says leasing company may have flouted agreement, even though it was not operating a flight for the airline, according to which no aircraft operating for a Saudi company can overfly or land in enemy territory.

cedars747 · Sat May 09, 2015 11:40 am

Quoting 777way (Reply 39):
according to which no aircraft operating for a Saudi company can overfly or land in enemy territory

Saudia notified the company (Hi-Fly) to cancel the contract signed between them and proceeded to take against legal action for violating the explicit terms of the contract

flyAUA · Sun May 10, 2015 12:04 pm

Just found this gem:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-a...tract-after-plane-taken-to-israel/

klwright69 · Tue May 12, 2015 6:28 am

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-Ne...ne-cancels-contract/2441431360935/

I was insisting that this is a national embarrassment for the Kingdom. Thank god it got no real press coverage here. Imagine the shock and horror.

But I envy those of you that were there to see and photograph this site.

Those who thought this flight had diverted or the Kingdom had otherwise started relations with Israel, I knew you were nuts, with all due respect of course.

I think it's hysterical honestly.

[Edited 2015-05-11 23:47:01]

777way · Wed May 13, 2015 12:18 am

why was my post deleted, it was against the Saudi's for restricting their press, people need to know things there.

b747400erf · Wed May 13, 2015 12:41 am

Quoting klwright69 (Reply 42):
I was insisting that this is a national embarrassment for the Kingdom. Thank god it got no real press coverage here. Imagine the shock and horror.

And of course you same people are first to explain how the conflict is due to the mentality and actions of Israel... while here admitting how awful it is that an airplane with Saudi livery landed in Israel. Acting like it dropped bombs on Palestinians. This is the mentality of why there will never be peace, and it comes only from one side.

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