While most Israelis were fast asleep late Monday night, dozens of first responders, medics and fire and rescue personnel were wide awake and watching tensely as they waited for a disabled plane to appear in the skies above Ben Gurion International Airport.
Ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles and other equipment were immediately deployed to the tarmac after the air traffic controller received word that an Israeli passenger plane was in trouble, and would try to return home.
The pilot was able to land the aircraft, an Israir A320 passenger jet, safely with 118 passengers aboard in the wee hours of Tuesday morning after reporting that one of the plane’s engines had quit.
He managed to bring the aircraft home under its own power to the airport and carry out a successful emergency landing, despite the dicey conditions.
Upon its arrival, passengers and crew found numerous fire and rescue personnel, ambulances, medics and other first responders waiting to assist.
No injuries were reported. Its not yet clear what caused the engine to malfunction. An investigation has been launched.
