When a flight came from Tel Aviv into the Makhachkala Airport in Dagestan, Russia, late Sunday night and early Monday morning, the plane was rushed and attacked by those on the ground.
Protesters rushed through airport security and raced onto the tarmac. According to Aviva Klompas, the former head of speechwriting at Israel Mission to the UN, what unfolded was like a "modern-day pogrom."
She posted videos, but they were seen on a pro-Vladimir Putin "news" outlet and ultimately said that passengers returned to the plane.
The Times of Israel confirmed the incident and cited a security official saying the incident is "ongoing" after the plane was attacked by a "local pro-Palestinian mob."
“A limited number of Israelis and Jews are currently isolated and under guard at the airport,” the official told the Times. “We are working on having them depart on a connection flight to Moscow once conditions allow it."
“Israeli security officials and the Israeli ambassador are working with the local security authorities," he added.
News curator Visegrád 24 posted scenes from the tarmac as attackers demanded to know who was Jewish.
Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, similarly posted videos saying, "Russian Telegram channels report that the plane from Tel Aviv did not land in that airport and landed in an alternative one close to Makhachkala. On the video the children say they 'came after Jews to kill them and brought a knife.' This is happening in 2023."
Digital Journalist at India TV, Vikash Tiwary, said that there was word that no Israelis were on the flight.
"The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency has announced that Makhachkala International Airport in Dagestan has been closed to any further departures and arrivals due to rioters having stormed the runways, and that it will remain closed until the 'Situation Normalizes,'" Tiwary wrote online.
"Rioters are still attempting to find a way onto the RedWings Flight from Israel on the Tarmac at Makhachkala International Airport in Dagestan, while continuing to shout 'Allahu Akbar' and raising the Palestinian Flag near the Plane," he also wrote.
Russian opposition journalist Alexander “Sasha” Sotnik posted a video with the caption: "Passengers of the plane that landed in Makhachkala were urgently brought back on board, as aggressive people were running towards the plane, eager to find and punish the Jews."
