BREAKING: Netanyahu forced to cancel Azerbaijan visit because Turkey barred him from airspace

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recently canceled visit to Azerbaijan was not due to “regional developments” or a “tight political and security schedule,” as officially stated, but rather because Turkey refused to allow Israel’s official state aircraft, the Wing of Zion, to fly through its airspace, according to a report by Walla News.

The Prime Minister’s Office reportedly explored an alternative flight path over Greece and Bulgaria. However, the route would have significantly increased the flight duration—nearly doubling travel time—leading officials to call off the trip.

This is not the first time Turkey’s strained ties with Israel have disrupted high-level diplomatic travel. In November 2024, President Isaac Herzog canceled his planned visit to the COP29 UN climate conference in Azerbaijan, citing “security considerations.” Reports later indicated that Turkey’s denial of airspace access to the Wing of Zion was the true cause of the cancellation.

Flight options from Israel to Azerbaijan are limited. Most direct routes pass through Turkey or other countries with restricted airspace for Israeli flights, such as Syria, Iraq, and Iran.