A preliminary investigation into the massive disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport on August 20 has found that workers leaving their shifts before completing scheduled overtime hours created a critical staffing shortage in the baggage-handling system, ultimately leading airport management to halt baggage intake and close check-in counters.
The investigative committee presented its initial findings Sunday to the Israel Airports Authority Council. According to the findings, the sudden shortage of employees in the baggage sorting operation caused a major backlog and raised concerns that continuing to accept luggage would overwhelm the system and lead to even more severe disruptions.
According to information first reported by Channel 12, employees who had been scheduled to work shifts that included overtime left after completing nine hours. The resulting reduction in manpower placed significant pressure on the baggage sorting operation.
Ben Gurion Airport Director Zohar Gefen subsequently ordered the baggage system halted. The preliminary investigation found that, given the circumstances at the time, his decision was justified.
The incident has become the focus of a dispute between Israel Airports Authority management and workers’ committee chairman Pinchas Idan.
Following the incident, Idan acknowledged that he had instructed employees not to work the additional three hours beyond their nine-hour shifts. He argued, however, that the departure of several baggage handlers did not justify shutting down the airport’s check-in operation.
Airport management has countered that the employees had been scheduled in advance to work 12-hour shifts and that their departure left the baggage-handling operation without sufficient personnel to function properly.
The disruption caused lengthy lines, delays and flight interruptions throughout the airport that day, with some planes departing without passengers’ luggage.
Although operations resumed approximately two hours later, it took several additional hours before the airport gradually returned to normal operations.
An estimate released at the time by Israel’s Finance Ministry placed the economic damage caused by the disruptions at approximately 25 million to 30 million shekels.
The investigative committee emphasized that its work is not yet complete and that the findings presented Sunday do not constitute its final report. At this stage, investigators have provided only a preliminary reconstruction of the events and have not issued conclusions regarding individual responsibility or ultimate accountability for the breakdown.
The committee’s complete findings and conclusions are expected to be released once the investigation is completed.
Meanwhile, officials at Ben Gurion Airport are already preparing for their next major operational challenge: the busy Tishrei holiday travel season.
The airport director warned employees that unusually large numbers of passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion during the upcoming holidays. He called on both Israel Airports Authority employees and managers to assist with airport operations in an effort to handle the anticipated crowds and prevent a repeat of the August 20 disruptions.
{Matzav.com}
