Israeli Court Orders Airline to Compensate Family Stranded After October 7

A new ruling by the Small Claims Court in Rishon LeZion makes clear that war and national emergencies do not give airlines a blanket exemption from their obligations to passengers. Senior Registrar Limor Nissim-Lev ruled in favor of an Israeli family that sued Royal Jordanian after the airline allegedly left them stranded abroad without assistance following the outbreak of the Iron Swords war. The lawsuit was filed through attorney Nitzan Gadot.

The incident began on October 7, 2023, when the family—a couple and their three children—was scheduled to return to Israel from a vacation in Italy on a flight connecting through Amman. Following Hamas's surprise attack and the outbreak of the war, their original flight was canceled. A replacement flight arranged by the airline was later canceled as well.

According to the family, the airline failed to offer alternative travel arrangements or provide basic assistance such as meals, accommodations, or communication services, despite its legal obligations.

With no assistance from the airline, the family was forced to make its own travel arrangements and cover all expenses out of pocket. They traveled from Italy to Romania, rented accommodations, and purchased new tickets on another airline before finally returning to Israel nine days after their original departure date.

During the proceedings, Royal Jordanian argued that the outbreak of war constituted extraordinary circumstances that exempted it from liability. The airline also contended that imposing financial responsibility on foreign carriers during security emergencies could discourage them from operating flights to Israel in the future.

Registrar Nissim-Lev rejected that argument, drawing a distinction between compensation for a canceled flight and an airline's duty to assist stranded passengers. The ruling stated that while wartime circumstances may exempt an airline from paying statutory compensation for a canceled flight, they do not relieve it of its obligation to provide immediate assistance, including meals, lodging, and other essential services.

Because the airline acknowledged that it had not provided the family with any assistance or paid for even a single night's accommodation, the court accepted most of the claim.

Royal Jordanian was ordered to pay the family NIS 17,980, covering reimbursement for lodging, meals, alternative flights, the cost of the unused original tickets, and NIS 2,000 in exemplary damages for breaching its obligations. The court also awarded the family NIS 600 in legal costs.

The ruling sends a clear message to the aviation industry: even during wartime and other emergencies beyond an airline's control, carriers remain responsible for providing stranded passengers with the basic assistance required by law.