An Israeli-operated cargo plane has flown through Irish sovereign airspace three times this year on its way to the US to collect Israel Defence Forces (IDF) weaponry.
The Ditch reported on Monday that the same Boeing 747 cargo plane passed through Irish-controlled airspace last week. Earlier this year the same aircraft passed directly over Ireland en route to collect weapons used in Israel’s war on Gaza.
The plane has made daily trips between Israeli and US air bases since last Saturday and most recently travelled from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, to Nevatim air base just outside Beersheba.
In over Curracloe Beach in county Wexford and out at Kilkee, county Clare
On October 11, 2023, the Israeli Ministry of Defense posted a video on X showing a cargo plane with the registration number X4-ICA unloading “an initial shipment of advanced weaponry from the United States to Israel”.
The aircraft, operated by Challenge Airlines Israel, had flown to Nevatim air base from Dover Air Force Base the previous day.
On 14 January, 2024 the same plane flew from Liege Airport in Belgium to JFK International Airport in New York. The flight entered Ireland over Curracloe beach in county Wexford and exited at Kilkee, county Clare, according to records obtained by The Ditch.
After arriving in New York later that night, the plane took a half-hour flight to Dover air base the following morning. It was loaded with US-supplied weaponry before flying the same day to Nevatim air base in Israel.
Just a week later, on 21 January, 2024 the Israeli-owned aircraft again departed from Liege.
This time it entered Irish sovereign airspace over south county Dublin and left over county Mayo. The plane arrived in New York’s JFK airport the following morning and headed for Dover air base later that day.
Before the day was over, XC-ICA had started its return journey to Israel with weapons for the IDF.
On the morning of 15 March, 2024 the same Challenger Airlines Israel plane left Liege airport on its way to New York.
Travelling over Ireland it first passed over Bray in county Wicklow before flying over the Inishkea Islands off the coast of Mayo. After its arrival in JFK International Airport the plane made its usual short journey to Dover air base in Delaware. In less than 24 hours its cargo of weapons for use in Gaza was unloaded at Nevatim air base.
All three flights were assisted by AirNav Ireland, the state-owned air traffic management service, which guided them on their path through Irish sovereign airspace.
Earlier this summer The Ditch reported that a US general onboard a military cargo plane frequently used to transport munitions stopped in Shannon Airport last month on his way to Israel – but Irish authorities didn’t search the aircraft for weaponry.
Israel has been accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice over its Gaza operations under a case brought by South Africa, which Ireland has supported. Under the Genocide Convention, ratified by Ireland, the state has an obligation to prevent genocide.
Last week taoiseach Simon Harris said, “International diplomacy has failed to protect innocent children” as the civilian death toll in Gaza surpassed 40,000.
TDs from Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit have condemned the state’s inaction following The Ditch’s first report on these flights.
The Department of Transport, Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Taoiseach have been contacted for comment.
