On Feb 12th 2026, an El Al Boeing 737-800, registration 4X-EKN, aborted its departure sequence twice at Amsterdam before ultimately returning to the gate due to a technical malfunction.
The aircraft, operating flight LY-46 from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv, had lined up on runway 18L and received takeoff clearance when the crew advised tower they needed to hold position for approximately 30 seconds because of a malfunction. Air traffic control promptly cancelled the takeoff clearance.
Roughly three minutes later, the crew reported they were ready for departure and were cleared for takeoff once again. However, about 40 seconds after the second clearance, the pilots informed tower they needed to cancel the takeoff and return to the gate due to the same unresolved issue. The aircraft subsequently vacated the runway and taxied back to the apron for further assessment.
After ground checks and corrective action, the 737 departed approximately two hours later and continued to Tel Aviv, arriving with a delay of around 100 minutes.
The aircraft carries additional significance for the airline. Previously operated by Southwest Airlines, the jet had recently been sold to El Al and was in the process of being delivered from Kansas City via New York and Amsterdam to Tel Aviv. The Amsterdam–Tel Aviv sector formed part of that delivery routing.
While the nature of the malfunction has not been detailed, the crew’s decision to halt departure not once but twice underscores the industry’s cautious approach to technical irregularities during the critical takeoff phase.
