Missile alert in Tel Aviv: Passengers from the government plane of then Chancellor Olaf Scholz take cover on the runway.

TEL AVIV 17.10.2023

Michael Kappeler
Chief photographer and photo coordinator for federal politics,
Berlin

It had been a long day with a hectic state visit to Israel, where I was part of the delegation of then Chancellor Olaf Scholz. We were just returning to the government plane, exhausted, and stowing our luggage. Suddenly, the crew ran through the plane shouting, “Get out, get out now!” Our fellow passengers ran onto the tarmac, and soldiers shouted at us to throw ourselves on the ground and take cover. There were explosions, flashes of light lit up the sky, and the Iron Dome, the Israeli missile defence system, fired missiles directly above us.  

Of course, I had my camera with me, and while the chancellor was being brought to safety via the front stairs in the background, I was able to film and take photos. Seconds later, I transferred my images from the runway directly from my camera to the editorial office. I sent them quickly while the internet was still working.

Shortly afterwards, the attack was over – nothing had happened. The mood on the flight home was sombre. Some of my fellow passengers were crying. We had got away again. As eyewitnesses, we took with us the oppressive feeling of what the Israelis go through every day.