Internal Probe Blames Early Worker Departures for Ben Gurion Airport Chaos

An internal investigation into the August 20th chaos at Ben Gurion Airport has preliminarily concluded that the primary cause was baggage handlers leaving their shifts early, failing to complete agreed-upon overtime. This departure created a severe bottleneck in the sorting system, prompting the airport manager to halt the baggage transport system and close check-in counters to prevent further system overload. The initial findings suggest this decision to stop baggage handling was "correct and appropriate."

The investigation, presented to the Airports Authority Council, revealed that employees at the sorting stations left their shifts earlier than scheduled and did not work the agreed-upon additional hours. This led to a significant backlog, raising concerns that continued baggage acceptance would exacerbate the crisis. The airport manager's subsequent order to halt baggage transport and close check-in was deemed a necessary measure.

However, the situation remains contentious. Pinchas Idan, chairman of the Airports Authority Workers' Committee, confirmed he instructed workers to end their shifts after nine hours, not work the additional three, but maintained that the airport manager ordered the check-in closure. He argued that the departure of 12-20 baggage handlers was not sufficient reason to shut down airport operations.

Airport Authority management presented a different account, stating employees were aware of a 12-hour shift, including overtime, and their early departure was unexpected. They argued that without these workers, continuing check-in would have led to mixed-up luggage and inability to load bags onto planes, worsening the crisis.

This is an interim report, and the investigation is ongoing. No personal conclusions have been drawn yet, with the final report to be submitted later. The incident caused severe disruptions, long delays, and flights departing without luggage, costing the economy an estimated NIS 25-30 million. The fallout has led to Prime Minister Netanyahu ordering Idan's removal from the Likud party and a review of Idan's extended tenure. Ben Gurion Airport is bracing for further congestion during the upcoming High Holidays, with management warning of unprecedented passenger volumes.