Operations at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport were shut down on Thursday at 2 p.m. local time amid a dispute with workers, Israeli media reported. All check-in counters were closed, severely disrupting airport operations and passenger services. Several flights bound for Tel Aviv were forced to turn back mid-journey and return to their countries because check-in operations had stopped.

Workers at four ground-service companies operating at the airport also stopped working. The disruption occurred during one of the airport’s busiest periods, when it handles about 100,000 passengers and 600 flights daily. Ynet reported that airport and air traffic authorities had notified airlines before the airport closure.

The Israel Airports Authority said the work stoppage followed instructions from the workers’ committee and urged employees to immediately withdraw it. It warned that it would seek a court resolution if the stoppage continued. Transport Ministry officials said airport workers could face dismissal if the action was proven to be an intentional slowdown, while Transport Minister Miri Regev instructed director general Moshe Ben Zaken to take immediate action.