Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) appeared on “Kudlow” to discuss how the U.S. should respond to conflicts in the Middle East.
Lebanese authorities are reportedly banning pagers and walkie-talkies on planes departing from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport following a series of explosions this week targeting Hezbollah terrorists.
The directive from Lebanon’s civil aviation authority came after pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members exploded on Tuesday and Wednesday, killing at least 37 people and wounding more than 3,000, according to Reuters.
Lebanese authorities have reportedly asked airlines operating out of Beirut to inform passengers that such devices are banned until further notice and will not be transported on air.
It’s unclear how many airlines are currently complying with the order. When asked about the matter by Fox Business on Thursday, Etihad Airways said it was “currently operating its normal flight schedule from Beirut” and that it was “monitoring every minute of all security situations around the world.”
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A Lebanese Middle East Airlines plane sits on the tarmac at Beirut International Airport on Thursday, September 19. Lebanese authorities have reportedly banned pagers and walkie-talkies on planes departing from the airport. (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Darsh/REUTERS)
An airline spokesman added: “Safety is always our number one priority and we will never fly a flight unless it is safe.”
Qatar Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Lebanon’s national carrier Middle East Airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment from FOX Business.
While these airlines still have flights scheduled from Beirut, others have cancelled flights entirely.
Lufthansa Group, which owns passenger airlines including Lufthansa Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings, told Fox Business that flights to Beirut have been suspended until Oct. 26, 2024 “due to the current situation” in the Middle East.
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People wait for their families after a plane landed at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport on Thursday, the day after a walkie-talkie used by the militant group Hezbollah exploded in southern Lebanon. (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Darsh/REUTERS)
“The Lufthansa Group continues to monitor the situation closely and will further assess it in the coming days,” the company added in a statement. “Affected passengers can either rebook to a later travel date free of charge or receive a full refund of their ticket price.”
The company also said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our passengers. The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority.”


People carry luggage outside Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on Thursday, September 19. (Reuters/Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
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A senior U.S. official confirmed to Fox News on Wednesday that Israel was responsible for the first series of explosions of pagers used by Hezbollah members.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.