Officials have confirmed that the Continental Airlines flight that turned around following takeoff from Ben-Gurion International Airport on Wednesday, November 9th, was indeed flight 085 from Tel Aviv to Newark, as reported by YWN-ISRAEL.

After receiving reports from the pilot of smoking emanating from an area of the plane, which was carrying 263 passengers, air traffic controllers instructed the flight to return and a level-2 state of emergency was declared. As reported, ambulances were dispatched from many cities as they stood by while the plane returned to the runway. Baruch Hashem, the plane landed without incident at 12:37pm. A preliminary inspection of the plane did not reveal any trace of a fire.

Officials praised the response of emergency responders, who they stated acted appropriately and expeditiously. The investigation continues.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)