Israel has billed the Lebanese Middle East Airways the dollar equivalent of IL 7000 for fuel and other services supplied to the MEA Boeing 707 that was hijacked to Lod Airport last Thursday. The plane with 125 passengers and crew members aboard was forced to land at Lod by a Libyan national, Muhammed Atouni, who was taken into custody by Israeli authorities.
The bill, the first of its kind since Mandate days, was sent to the MEA’s Paris office and was signed by Ezra Blass, deputy director of Lod Airport. It itemized, among other things, 2830 litres of fuel pumped into the plane and routine servicing and landing fees. The airport authorities have a receipt signed by the plane’s pilot, Capt. Adel Kawas, for the goods and services he received.
But food and refreshments provided to the passengers and crew of the Lebanese airliner during its brief stay in Israel are “on the house.” They will be paid for by the Israel Transport Ministry.
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