Last update - 00:00 07/10/2007
Mofaz orders disciplinary hearings into Ben-Gurion near-collision
By Zohar Blumenkrantz, Haaretz Correspondent
Passengers flying to and from Israel are expected to experience delays from Sunday night at Ben-Gurion International Airport after flight supervisors were ordered to ensure longer time intervals between flights at an emergency hearing on Sunday.
The meeting, which lasted two hours, was called in response to a near collision between two planes at last week, and resulted in a decision to drastically increase safety measures.
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz on Sunday ordered two disciplinary hearings about the incident, at which decisive actions may be taken, including termination of employment of those responsible for the near-disaster.
Following the deliberations, Mofaz said that he is treating the incident as if it were a major air disaster, and has instructed the relevant officials and agencies to do the same.
The Transportation Ministry also is probing allegations of a cover-up of the two planes' near miss, which occurred last Sunday morning on the only runway open at that hour at the airport.
An ATR class Israair jet on a domestic route was in the process of landing on the runway when the pilot noticed a passenger plane idling on the runway, though they had been told the runway was clear for landing.
In response, the Airports Authority said on Sunday, "The incident is under examination, and the Authority will pursue the examination to conclusion. Details of the incident will be passed along to authorized officials and to the Civil Aviation Authority."
Meanwhile, a Continental Airlines passenger jet was forced to Saturday circle an additional time prior to landing at Ben-Gurion International Airport in order to avoid a collision with a Turkish Airways jet that had yet to clear the runway, Haaretz has learned.
The Airports Authority, however, called the action "standard procedure."