Back in December 2009, YWN-Israel reported an incident at Ben-Gurion International Airport involving an incoming Lufthansa flight and an El Al flight waiting to take off. At the time, Civil Aviation Administration officials in Israel reported air traffic controllers involved were suspended as the preliminary evidence in the case pointed to human error on their part.

Some 10 weeks later, the investigation has been completed and it has been learned that the planes’ automatic warning systems are credited with averting disaster as the planes were as close as 250 meters (yards) from one-another, yet air traffic controllers were clueless.

Investigators cleared the El Al crew, stating the errors were made by the flight crew of the Lufthansa Airline plane. At the time, there were 428 passengers and crew onboard the two flights.

Despite the Lufthansa error, the air traffic controllers were found responsible since they failed to monitor compliance from the incoming flight after it was given its landing instructions.

Investigators state the investigation revealed this was a most serious near-miss, too close for comfort, and perhaps among the most serious that ever occurred at Ben-Gurion.

The reports do not mention the final disposition of the air traffic controllers and what actions were taken against them if any.

Original YWN Article: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=43612

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)