An extremely alert air traffic controller is credited with averting what could have been a mishap or worse at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport on Tuesday, realizing a Trans-Euro Russian Airline flight was about to touch down on the wrong runway.

The 737 was heading to a runway being used for takeoffs, not landings. Despite the warning, the pilot circled around and reportedly made a second attempt to land on the incorrect runway. Only on the third and final attempt did the Russian airliner land on the correct runway.

Civil Air Administration officials explain that the incident presented a “moderate threat” and it was not as bad as it sounds, adding the credentials of the pilot and other data are under review following the incident.

CAA Chief Inspector Yitzchak Raz points out that the flight did not come close to the runway, or Highway 1, and the entire incident occurred ‘in the air’, emphasizing that there was not real danger at any time. He explained the two runways are not far from one another, and apparently, the pilot was confused. This is not a good situation Raz explained, but it is also not too serious. “The air traffic controller was in the picture the entire time and corrective action was taken”.  He add that making a mistake regarding a runway occurs once every number of weeks, but this time, it occurred twice with the same pilot.

Attorney Gal Peleg, an expert on air travel security disagrees, insisting the incident was most serious. He also acknowledged however one cannot call it a “near accident”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)