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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is en route to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, traveling aboard a VIP-configured Boeing 767 operated by the Israeli Air Force. While such travel arrangements are typical for heads of state, this particular flight has drawn attention due to its unusual routing.
Rather than taking a direct path over mainland Europe from Tel Aviv to New York, Netanyahu’s aircraft took a circuitous route through the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic. According to Flightradar24 tracking data, the Boeing 767-300ER with registration 4X-ISR, known as 'Wing of Zion,' departed Ben Gurion International Airport just after 05:00 local time and is expected to arrive at JFK Airport in New York shortly before 11:00.
The decision not to fly over Europe appears linked to legal concerns. An arrest warrant was issued for Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel's military actions in Gaza. The terms of this warrant reportedly allow ICC member states that Netanyahu’s plane might overfly to compel his aircraft to land and potentially detain him.
