The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his entourage were forced to evacuate their waiting Airbus A350-900 at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) after air raid sirens rang out as they prepared to leave Israel.
Among the group with the German Chancellor were a group of reporters who managed to capture footage and photos of the frightening sequence of events.
According to German publication Welt, the incident occurred in the evening of October 17, 2023, just before the plane was set of leave for Cairo, Egypt.
In a video shared online by Sara Sievert, from t-online news, the group are shown evacuating the Airbus A350-900 and walking quickly across the runway.
Kanzlermaschine in Tel Aviv vor Abflug geräumt, weil Alarm. Alle liegen auf Rollfeld für Deckung. Zwei Raketen erkennbar von Iron Dome getroffen über Flughafen. @welt pic.twitter.com/vZfqLGQQYY
— Robin Alexander (@robinalexander_) October 17, 2023
The camera then pans towards two rockets in the sky which appear to have been intercepted by the Israeli defense system, Iron Dome.
A number of people, including Sara Sievert, are then seen lying on the ground as the sirens continue to wail in the background.
Welt reported that Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not lay down on the runway and was instead taken to a nearby container and then a shelter.
After a few minutes, the all clear was given and the passengers returned to the plane.
#Raketenalarm in Tel Aviv. Die Regierungsmaschine wird umgehend evakuiert. @Bundeskanzler wird in einen Schutzraum gebracht. Wir legen uns vor dem Flugzeug auf den Boden. @robinalexander_ @frautoroxel pic.twitter.com/OTWV55KUoA
— Sara Sievert (@sara__si) October 17, 2023
“Chancellor’s plane in Tel Aviv evacuated before departure because of alarm. Everyone lies on the tarmac for cover. Two rockets visible from Iron Dome hit over airport,” Robin Alexander from Welt wrote on social media.
The German Chancellor was in Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Izchak Herzog.
While there Olaf Scholz reiterated his support for Israel’s right to defend itself and warned other parties that it would be a grave mistake to intervene in the conflict.
