For many years, a protocol was followed at Ben Gurion airport in Lod, that niftarim were removed from airplanes before connecting the plane to the boarding bridge. This ensured that there was no tumas mes in the airport.

“However, recently this protocol has not been followed,” the Vaad Mishmeres Kohanim of Lakewood tells TLS.

“As such, Rabbanim in Eretz Yisroel direct that Kohanim should not be in Ben Gurion airport during these times of Monday through Thursday: 4:30-4:50 am, 11:00-11:20 am and 5:20-5:40 pm, Sun 5:20-5:50 pm, Fri 10:20- 10:40 am and 2:10-2:30 pm.”

They added, “When booking a flight into TLV, kohanim are directed to book a flight which is to arrive with enough time before the above times to exit the  terminal. This is until the Rabbanim in Eretz Yisroel advise that the issue is resolved.”

“We also take this opportunity to inform Kohanim that the following El Al flights do not take niftarim and are therefore safe for Kohanim: All El Al direct flights from Newark to Tel Aviv.
Flight 14 from JFK to Tel Aviv. (Note: Flight 14 does not fly every day.”