El Al: Sorry, I thik it`s too early for me to fly - Curt Lewis

El Al flights delayed - pilots skipped work?

Flights to Barcelona and Newark delayed, passengers say they were told pilots didn't show up to work; El Al denies, but doesn't explain.

Two El Al international flights were delayed on Thursday night and Friday morning, and inconvenienced passengers report they were told the pilots simply didn't show up to work - a report that the airline quickly denied.

An El Al flight from Tel Aviv to Barcelona that was scheduled for take off at 9 a.m. on Friday was delayed and has yet to be assigned a new takeoff time, reports Yedioth Aharonoth.

The delay was not a lone event, as overnight another flight to Newark, New Jersey was delayed to the morning hours but has yet to take off for its destination either.

Passengers have claimed that they were told at the El Al counters in the airport that the pilots did not show up to work.

However, El Al denied that the delays were caused by irresponsible pilots, even while not providing an alternate explanation.

"We are sorry for the delays. We are working to find a solution and send out the flights quickly," said the company in a terse statement.