Two more flights with Israel-bound weapons transported over Ireland in March

Two more flights with weapons for Israel, separate from the six already reported by The Ditch, flew through Irish airspace this year – including one this March. 

The explosives onboard included slapper detonators used in guided bombs to kill thousands of Gazans since October last year.

Six other flights with munitions on their way to Israel passed through Irish sovereign airspace from October 2023 to February 2024 – carrying a total of just more than 57 tonnes of weaponry.   

The Department of Transport said last week that it’s examining these reports. Taoiseach Simon Harris said last week he is “seeking information” on the matter. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called on Harris to “urgently provide full answers”.

‘Its cargo included 313 kilogrammes of detonators’

A Challenge Airlines Israel Boeing 747-412(BCF) with the registration number OO-ACE left JFK Airport, New York on 19 March, 2024 for Tel Aviv. It had a scheduled stopover at Liège Airport in Belgium.

It entered Irish airspace above county Kerry and flew across the country before exiting the state over county Waterford.

Its cargo included 313 kilogrammes of detonators for delivery to Israel-based IDF-supplier Orion Advanced Systems.

Onboard there were also 277 kilogrammes of explosive-containing impulse cartridges ordered by the government of Israel for use in Israeli Air Force fighter jets.

The flight also carried 5,800 rounds of Sig Sauer rifle ammunition for delivery to a privately owned shooting range in Beersheba. 

There was another yet-to-be reported flight that passed through Irish airspace with weapons on their way to Israel. 

On 18 February, 2024, another Challenge Airlines plane with the registration number OO-ACF departed New York for Tel Aviv. It also had a stopover in Liège Airport. 

The flight entered Irish airspace over county Kerry before leaving the state above Hook Peninsula in county Wexford. 

Onboard were 346 kilogrammes of explosives for delivery to Orion Advanced Systems and the Israeli government. These included 45 “blue chip slapper detonators”.

It’s an indictable criminal offence for an air carrier to transport munitions or dangerous goods over Irish sovereign airspace without an exemption from the minister for transport. 

The Department of Transport says no such exemptions were granted to Challenge Airlines in 2023 or 2024. 

The Department of the Taoiseach and Department of Transport have again been contacted for comment.