Israel Operations and Crew Safety

Date: October 7, 2023

Throughout the day, MEC President Ken Diaz, Local Council Presidents, along with the MEC Safety, Health, & Security and MEC EAP Committees, have maintained continuous communication with both the company and crew members on layover in Israel. We can affirm that all United Flight Attendant and Pilot crew members are safe.

In collaboration with the company, we successfully facilitated the safe extraction of all crew members, on two flights, Flight 73 (TLV-IAD) and Flight 91 (TLV-EWR), both of which are currently enroute to the United States. United intends to temporarily halt its operations in Israel as they closely collaborate with U.S. agencies to evaluate the security situation and investigate alternative flight routing possibilities.

We would like to address the bravery involving our crews in Israel.  Early this morning, while on layover, they were alerted to a surprise bombing attack through sirens and news reports. Once it was deemed safe, they demonstrated remarkable courageousness by immediately heading to the airport as part of the evacuation process.

Our top priority is the well-being of our Flight Attendants, and we have been actively extending our support to them. If you have any information about a United crew member who may still be in Israel on personal leave, we strongly encourage you to contact your Local Council without delay. Additionally, we want to emphasize that the AFA EAP (Employee Assistance Program) is readily available to provide any assistance you may need during this period.

This incident underscores the importance of remaining vigilant in all circumstances. While on layover, it is crucial to maintain situational awareness in unfamiliar locations, be alert for anything unusual, and keep each other informed about your plans and whereabouts.

We will continue to work closely with the company to monitor the situation, and we will keep you updated with any further developments. Ensuring the safety and well-being of all our crew members remains our utmost priority.