A huge fire, said to have been caused by short circuit, destroyed the main passenger terminal at Lydda Airport today but disrupted flights only briefly. No injuries were reported but damage was estimated at millions of dollars. Deputy Prime Minister Yigal Allon, who visited the airport in his capacity as acting Minister of Transport, said the damage could be repaired. Other reports said however that the building, which is fully insured, might not be useable anymore.
Airport authorities stressed that there was no evidence of sabotage and said the fire was started when a short circuit caused electric cables to overheat. They ignited ornamental plywood decorations in the terminal which in turn set fire to barrels of asphalt used for repairs to the building. Flames spread swiftly and the terminal was engulfed by black smoke. Passengers and employees in the building were escorted to safety and no one was hurt.
An El Al plane about to take off was delayed for an hour but airline officials said all flights would continue on schedule. (A British European Airways flight to Lydda with Israel’s Foreign Minister Abba Eban aboard turned back to London Airport when the fire was reported. The plane resumed its flight two hours later. El Al officials in London said none of their flights were affected.)
The blaze was confined to the terminal building. An emergency communications center was quickly put into operations to receive incoming traffic and contact was maintained with all aircraft arriving or departing Lydda. Customs and other administrative procedures were transferred to another building. Passengers were received but non-passengers accompanying them were told to stay away from the airport.
The Lydda terminal building was built in the 1930s and enlarged many times to keep pace with increasing air traffic. It was recently renovated to handle large crowds of travellers and visitors. Plans to construct a new terminal were held in abeyance for lack of funds but may have to proceed now as a result of the fire.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
