An Israir passenger flight scheduled to land in Ljubljana was diverted to Zagreb on Wednesday after Slovenian authorities refused to grant landing permission, according to the Israeli airline.
The aircraft landed safely in Croatia following the rerouting. Israir claimed the decision by Slovenian officials was politically motivated and said it may violate international aviation agreements and European Union rules. The company said Israel’s Foreign Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority were involved in efforts to resolve the issue, but the flight was ultimately not allowed to continue to Ljubljana.
There has been no detailed official explanation from Slovenian authorities regarding the reason for the denial. The incident comes at a sensitive political moment in Slovenia, where Janez Janša was recently approved by parliament as prime minister after a closely contested election and coalition negotiations.
Slovenia’s previous government had taken a more critical stance toward Israel, including recognizing Palestinian statehood in 2024. The latest dispute could add tension to relations between Ljubljana and Israel, particularly if the airline pursues claims that the decision was political rather than technical.
For now, the flight’s passengers were redirected through Zagreb, while Israeli officials and the carrier are expected to seek further clarification from Slovenia over the landing refusal.
