A Delta Air Lines flight travelling from Israel to New York declared an emergency and returned to Tel Aviv on Sunday morning after developing a mechanical problem, according to reports.

The mechanical fault caused anxiety among passengers who were reportedly already on edge as Palestinian militants launched rocket attacks on the city.

Flight 469 — a Boeing 747 with 370 passengers and 17 crew members aboard — landed back at Ben Gurion Airport around 2:30 a.m. local time after flaps on the jumbo jet failed to retract during takeoff two hours earlier, the airline reported.