A plane carrying a group of 150 Israeli students on a trip to Poland has arrived safely at its destination after it was forced to make an emergency landing in Antalya, Turkey on Monday, the Education Minister said on Tuesday.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced on Tuesday morning that the delegation landed safely in Poland and is making its way to the hotel.
The landing was made following concerns about a technical malfunction, and for reasons of caution, a decision was made to stop in accordance with aviation rules.
N12 reported that a bird had entered the plane's engine during the flight.
The high school student delegation - from Ein Kerem High School in Jerusalem - was en route to Poland on a standard school trip to learn about the events of the Holocaust. They were accompanied by security personnel from the Shin Bet, as is customary for any delegation to Poland.
The Education Ministry said that they were in continuous contact with security and education officials and were in coordination with school administrations and parents.
It was reported that all the students "are feeling well, staying in a safe and protected area within the airport, and are closely accompanied by the teaching staff who are with them at all times."
Holocaust learning
Israeli school trips to Poland typically take place in the winter and the summer, and, according to Education Minister Yoav Kisch, aim to allow “students to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, to be exposed to the atrocities that took place, and to prove the victory and resurrection over the attempt to destroy the Jewish people.”
In November 2023, the ministry announced it would cancel the winter Poland trips due to the rise of antisemitism worldwide in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war.