Israel’s EL AL Flight From LAX Delayed After 140 Checked Bags Found With ‘Free Palestine’ Stickers

An EL AL flight preparing to depart Los Angeles for Tel Aviv faced an unexpected disruption when ground staff discovered that a large number of checked bags had been covered with stickers shortly before departure. The incident, which occurred on February 16 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), forced the airline to halt loading operations and initiate a full security response.

According to airport staff, the discovery was made after the bags had already been placed inside the aircraft’s hold. Once handlers noticed the stickers, the airline’s security team ordered all 140 affected bags to be removed from the aircraft. EL AL’s procedures require any luggage showing signs of tampering or unexpected markings to be re‑screened, especially given the airline’s heightened security posture and the ongoing regional tensions involving Israel.

The offloading and re‑inspection process took considerable time, resulting in a significant delay for passengers. Flight LY6, which was scheduled to depart at 2:00 pm, eventually pushed back at 3:39 pm. Although the aircraft made up some time en route, it still arrived in Tel Aviv roughly an hour behind schedule. Many passengers landed without their checked luggage, as not all bags could be cleared and reloaded before departure. Those items were screened separately and sent to Israel on the following day’s flight.

Reactions among travelers varied. Some expressed frustration about the delay and the inconvenience of arriving without their belongings, while others acknowledged that security procedures must take precedence. One passenger noted that the situation was unsettling, given the scale of the tampering and the political nature of the stickers.