Tons of “Bunker-Buster” Bomb Parts for Israel Go Through JFK Airport

An investigation traced three spring flights by Israeli cargo airline Challenge Airlines carrying BLU-109 bomb casings through JFK to the Israeli military, during the war against Iran. The findings matter because these 2,000-pound bombs have been linked to mass-casualty attacks in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, and their transport through a major US airport has prompted calls to halt weapons shipments.

The investigation also identified more than 100 shipments of JDAM guidance kits, many marked for use with MK-84 bombs. The shipments did not contain active munitions, though earlier weapons shipments through JFK included 14 tons of nitrocellulose bound for Israel in May 2025. The Port Authority said federal authorities and airlines control what can be carried, while a New York City campaign is seeking to stop weapons flows through the airport.