Controllers had stopped flights to protest report that placed blame for near-accident on their shoulders.
By JPOST.COM STAFFBen Gurion 298.88(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Takeoffs at Ben-Gurion Airport resumed Thursday morning a few hours after they were stopped by air traffic controllers protesting a report that came out Wednesday regarding a near-accident in August 2006.
The report, which was compiled by the airport's chief investigator, held air traffic controllers responsible for the incident, claiming they were tired and confused.
The flights were resumed after Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz agreed to the controllers' demand that he commission an independent investigation into the incident. They believe the near-accident was caused by faulty infrastructure, primarily Ben Gurion's outdated control tower.
The disgruntled workers began the morning by refusing to make the staff changeover following the overnight shift, and then stopped allowing takeoffs.
In the incident in question, an airliner from the Italian Eurofly charter fleet narrowly missed crashing into an Israir plane preparing for takeoff.
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