Shocking airport takeover: Crowd invades plane from Israel in Dagestan

In a startling turn of events, the main airport in Dagestan has been closed until November 6, following a violent protest. The turmoil began when hundreds swarmed the airport after a flight from Tel Aviv, operated by Russian carrier Red Wings, landed at 7:17 pm, as tracked by FlightRadar24. Footage from the scene showed an agitated crowd, with some protestors carrying Palestinian flags and storming the plane, even jumping onto the wing, looking for passengers. This has been confirmed by Russian media and the Associated Press, who reported anti-Semitic phrases being shouted and passports being scrutinized by the crowd.

Tension Escalates with Injuries and Investigations

Rosaviatsia, Russia’s aviation authority, stated that the mob was eventually removed from the airport by 10:20 pm local time. However, the conflict left about 20 people injured, with two in a critical condition, as reported by the Dagestan Ministry of Health. The casualties included police and protesters. Following this chaotic incident, Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation.

Government and International Response

The Governor of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, condemned the airport storming as a “gross violation of the law,” vowing that those responsible will face consequences. Despite expressing empathy for the “suffering of victims of the actions of unrighteous people,” he emphasized that law enforcement agencies would provide an appropriate response to the outrageous actions. Simultaneously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that Israel’s ambassador is coordinating with Russian authorities to ensure the safety of Jewish people and Israeli citizens, highlighting the grave view Israel takes of any attempts to harm its citizens and Jews globally.