Tri-State Area travelers relieved to return from Israel but worried about loved ones left behind
NEWARK, N.J. -- Getting back to the Tri-State Area from Israel has not been easy, but several flights started arriving over the weekend.
Three more landed Monday at Newark Liberty International Airport
As CBS New York's John Dias reported, passengers were able to breathe a sigh of relief knowing they are safely back in America. Many were concerned about loved ones left behind, unsure when they will be able to return to Israel or what it may look like in the future.
- Read More: Flights from Israel arrive at New York, New Jersey airports as Americans try to escape war
After a long and emotional journey, Batya Daken was reunited with her grandparents Monday in Newark.
"My heart is with my family. I have seven other siblings in Israel and I have people that I know, friends that I know that are in the army, friends that I know that got killed," she told Dias.
Before the war started, she had scheduled a year-long trip to stay with her grandparents in the Catskills.
"So it was hard to cancel it," she said.
Major U.S. airlines, like Delta, American and United, suspended their direct flights to and from Israel for the near future.
"Civilians are afraid to walk in the streets, the streets are empty," traveler Judi Dobner said.
"Stores are closed, they don't have workers, there is nobody available, everybody's in the army," Samuel Dobner added.
Most passengers were relieved they found a flight out of the war-torn country, but said they have some sort of survivors' remorse.
"It feels good to be here, but sad to know that you're leaving very important people behind," said Samuel Dobner.
Stacey Miller lives right outside Tel Aviv and came to America to visit her elderly parents.
"Heartbreaking, I'm leaving my husband, my children and my grandchildren," she said. "I don't want to cancel, because my parents are very old and I don't know how many more opportunities I'm going to have to see them."
NYU college student Dan Zuckerman just flew back after a quick trip to see his family in Israel.
"My brothers and sisters are in the army, so I came home," he said. "I have three friends that I lost. I have been through three funerals one day after the other. You just can't imagine, you see families losing their kids."
The State Department has been arranging charter flights for U.S. citizens of out Israel to other countries in Europe.
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