Transport Minister Miri Regev has instructed the establishment of an external investigative committee to examine the events that led to the shutdown of Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday, according to The Zioneer. The move follows the Israel Airports Authority board's decision earlier Sunday to set up its own internal committee on the matter.
Transport Minister Miri Regev ordered an external investigative committee on Sunday to examine the events that led to the shutdown of Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday. The move came hours after the Israel Airports Authority board announced its own internal committee at 13:10 Jerusalem, escalating the scrutiny over the disruption that stranded thousands of passengers.
The Thursday shutdown, caused by a labor strike, was originally scheduled for Wednesday but postponed due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's presence at the airport alongside Minister Regev, as The Zioneer reported on Thursday. Today at 13:10, the IAA board established an internal committee headed by its internal auditor, with initial findings expected by the end of this week. Later on Sunday, Minister Regev directed a separate external review, broadening the investigation beyond the airport authority's own process.
Minister Regev, who oversees the Israel Airports Authority, has previously taken steps to prevent flight disruptions, warning in June of a fuel truck shortage that risked cancellations and ordering the IAA not to cancel summer flights as a solution was pending, as The Zioneer documented. The current crisis has intensified political and public pressure on the ministry and the airport authority.
The scope and timeline of the external committee have not yet been announced. It remains to be seen whether the two investigations will proceed in parallel or be coordinated.
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