Refueling at Ben Gurion Airport
Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg
Ben Gurion Airport grounds 2 flights
Less than day after transportation minister announces airport back to business, fuel contamination strikes again causing flight delays. Airport Autority: Still awaiting test results
Despite Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz's announcement Monday that the fuel crisis at the Ben Gurion International Airport was over,
two flights were once again delayed on Tuesday over fear of fuel contamination.
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The flights that were grounded were headed to Germany and Spain. Most flights however departed on schedule without refueling in Cyprus.
"Thirty-eight planes were refueled overnight, of which only two raised fears the fuel was not up to par," said an Israel Airports Authority official. "These planes were then emptied and refilled with fuel that meets the required standards."
Dozens of flights that were scheduled to depart from Ben Gurion last Thursday were halted due to a contamination discovered in airport's jet fuel supply. As a result thousands of passengers were stranded at the airport.
Once news of the fuel crisis became public Israel's airspace was sealed off, effectively disconnecting it from the rest of the world. The IAA promised that all of the fuel supplies will be replaced within the next couple of days with nearly 2,000,000 liters of clean fuel.
Officials at the airport are still waiting to receive the test results of 1,200,000 liters of contaminated fuel. Currently all planes being fueled are also being examined by special Air Force teams.
A passenger waiting for her flight to take off described the scene at the airport: "It's mayhem here. People are hysterical, crying. Even security guards were called in. They're not telling us what's going on and not permitting us to go home. It's a disgrace. We're stuck and we don't know what to do."
Gili Dagan contributed to the report
Initial information was received via Red Mail
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