Illustration Photo: Shutterstock The French Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, announced this evening (12.8) on his official X (formerly Twitter) account that the air traffic controller at Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport has been immediately suspended from duty, and a disciplinary process has been initiated against him.
According to him, an analysis of the recordings carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) confirmed the facts and the controller's identity, and the punishment will be determined according to the severity of the case.
The serious incident, first reported this morning by 'PassportNews', occurred this morning during the takeoff of El Al flight LY320 from Paris to Tel Aviv, when the controller breached air communication rules, went on the air, and broadcast to the El Al pilots: "Free Palestine." The pilots reported the incident in real time to Ben Gurion Airport and El Al management in Israel.
Minister Tabarot wrote that "these facts are serious, they affect the image of public service and do not meet the required standards," stressing that the French government will not compromise on punishment: "We see this as a serious violation of regulations and trust."
As reiterated after the incident, El Al stated in response: "The company regards the incident that occurred last night, in which a French flight controller addressed the company pilot in an unprofessional and inappropriate manner, with severity. We are handling the matter with the authorities in Israel, who are in contact with the authorities in France. El Al will continue to fly around the world with the Israeli flag on its aircraft tails with pride, maintaining professionalism, and ensuring the safety and security of passengers and crews."