High alert at Ben Gurion Airport as El Al plane with 279 passengers to attempt emergency landing

El Al Plane carrying 279 passengers on board takes off en route to New York but forced to return to attempt emergency landing after technical fault found in left wheel; over 70 MDA rescue teams at scene.

A state of emergency was announced at Ben Gurion Airport overnight Sunday because of a technical fault on board an El Al flight expected to land at the airport.

The El Al plane, carrying 279 passengers on board, took off en route to New York but was forced to turn back and perform an emergency landing when it was discovered that there was a technical fault in one of the plane's left wheels.