It has emerged that several firearms belonging to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security detail have gone missing after American Airlines lost their luggage.

The four Glock 9-mm pistols are believed to have been stolen after the baggage was checked in at New York JFK Airport.

The guns were intended for Israeli government personnel guarding Mr Netanyahu during Tuesday’s official state visit to US President Barack Obama in Washington.

The baggage was eventually recovered on Wednesday in Los Angeles Airport – over two thousand miles from its intended destination – but it was then discovered that the handguns were missing.

Police investigating the incident are attempting to establish whether the suspected theft occurred in New York or after the luggage arrived at the Californian Airport.

The airline has declined to comment on the situation, telling NBC: “When you have a situation related to security, we allow the appropriate law enforcement agencies to handle the situation and we refrain from commenting publicly, so that we don’t hamper an investigation.”

Across the Atlantic, it was reported recently that the Association of European Airlines has stopped publishing “service quality” tables detailing the loss of passengers’ baggage. The move, criticised by consumer rights groups, followed complaints by airlines that the tables reflected badly upon them.

© Cheapflights Ltd (Picture credit: smarterlam)

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