Mauritius blocks landing of Israel flight, forcing Air Seychelles cancellation

27/09/2026

Mauritius blocks landing of Israel flight, forcing Air Seychelles cancellation

PORT LOUIS, Sept 27: Mauritius authorities refused landing approval for an Air Seychelles flight scheduled to travel from Israel to Mauritius on Saturday, forcing the cancellation of the service, according to Israeli media and the Israeli tour operator that organized the trip.

Spirit World Productions, which arranged the flight, said the necessary approvals had been obtained several months earlier but that Mauritian authorities ultimately refused to authorize the aircraft’s landing despite efforts to secure permission through the night. The company said it was informed that the decision was based on “political and diplomatic considerations.”

Following the refusal, Air Seychelles canceled the flight from Ben Gurion Airport. Spirit World Productions said it was working with the airline and relevant authorities to assist affected passengers and determine arrangements for their travel. Mauritian authorities had not publicly commented on the reported decision at the time of publication.

The Times of Israel reported that the flight was intended to carry Israeli travelers to Mauritius, while other Israeli reports also described the refusal as apparently linked to political considerations. A separate report citing sources familiar with the matter suggested a possible connection to Mauritius’ absence from Netanyahu’s UN General Assembly address, but that explanation has not been independently confirmed and was not included in the tour operator’s public statement.