Drama at Ben Gurion Airport Tuesday: a Boeing 737 passenger jet that took off for Prague executed an airborne U-turn and landed safely, after it turned out that the tires on the right wheel were falling apart.

The plane had 181 passengers and crew board, who emerged unhurt.

The problem was discovered after the plane took off, when 26 tire parts were found on the runway. A state of emergency was declared at the airport and large firefighting and rescue forces deployed near the runway, but the plane landed safely.

About ten days ago, another passenger jet was reportedly kept from taking off with a malfunction by an alert and insistent passenger, who is member of the Crown Heights community and the daughter of Rabbi Kalman Winefeld. She was scheduled to return from a trip to Israel, where she spent the Pesach holiday, but when she heard a worrisome noise from the engine. The plane was checked and a serious malfunction was indeed discovered.