A passenger traveling from Seattle to Tel Aviv has reported finding a handwritten anti-Israel message inside her checked suitcase after completing a journey involving Alaska Airlines and El Al. The discovery has raised concerns about baggage security, unauthorized access to luggage, and the procedures used to handle checked bags during international connections.
Noa Sabar Dvoskin was traveling with her family, including young children, from Seattle to Israel on August 22, 2026. The family first flew from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) aboard Alaska Airlines flight AS583, before connecting to El Al flight LY106 from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv.
After reaching Israel and opening her luggage, Dvoskin discovered a handwritten note inside one of her checked bags containing the words “F Israel.”* She said the discovery left her feeling sickened, frightened, and deeply uneasy. She subsequently went through the rest of her belongings to determine whether anything had been stolen, damaged, or otherwise disturbed.
Passenger Questions How the Note Entered Her Suitcase
The central unanswered question is how the note came to be inside the suitcase. Dvoskin said she had never expected anything of this nature to happen during an airline journey. Because the message was found inside checked luggage rather than attached to the exterior, the discovery naturally prompted concerns about whether someone had accessed the bag during its transportation.
Dvoskin was particularly relieved that her children did not see the message. The family had been visiting Seattle after moving from the city to Israel approximately two years ago, and the incident turned what had otherwise been a positive family trip into an unsettling experience after their return.
Complaints concerning the incident have reportedly been submitted to Los Angeles International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. Embassy in Israel. These agencies could potentially help establish where the suitcase was handled and whether established baggage-security procedures were followed.
Alaska Airlines-El Al Codeshare Adds Another Layer
The itinerary was made possible through the Alaska Airlines-El Al codeshare relationship, allowing passengers to travel on a single reservation while having checked baggage transferred during the Los Angeles connection. For travelers, this arrangement can make international journeys considerably easier because bags do not ordinarily need to be manually collected and checked again at the connecting airport.
That convenience also means luggage can pass through several handling stages without the passenger directly observing who has access to it. In this case, the suitcase traveled from Seattle through Los Angeles before arriving in Tel Aviv, leaving multiple points in the journey that could potentially be relevant to any investigation.
The partnership between the airlines also extends beyond the codeshare itself. Alaska Airlines and El Al maintain a reciprocal frequent-flyer relationship, while El Al places its flight code on selected Alaska Airlines domestic services. Eligible travelers can also earn miles toward Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards program on qualifying itineraries.
Previous LAX Incident Raised Security Concerns
The discovery comes only months after another incident involving El Al operations at LAX. Ground staff reportedly discovered “Free Palestine” stickers placed on airport equipment associated with an El Al flight from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv. The aircraft was delayed while the plane was unloaded and baggage was re-screened because of security concerns.
The two incidents are different in nature, and the available information does not establish that they were connected. Nevertheless, their proximity has increased attention surrounding security and employee access in the handling environment supporting El Al operations at Los Angeles.
Why Checked-Baggage Access Matters
Finding an offensive note is disturbing, but the broader security question concerns unauthorized baggage access. Checked luggage can contain medication, documents, electronics, valuables, and other personal possessions. More seriously, unauthorized access could theoretically allow prohibited or dangerous materials to be inserted into a bag.
Airport and airline security procedures are designed to control such risks. If baggage requires inspection, authorized personnel are expected to follow established processes rather than secretly inserting personal messages or other objects.
For Dvoskin and her family, the discovery represented a particularly troubling conclusion to their trip. The incident now places attention on what happened to one passenger’s suitcase between Seattle, Los Angeles, and Tel Aviv, and whether investigators can determine when and where the note was placed.
