A recent news article reports that an El Al 767 came close to hitting a hillside near Modiin while making a westbound approach to Ben Gurion airfield. The usual approach is straight-in to the east, over Tel Aviv. In this instance due to wind conditions, the aircraft passed by the airport heading towards Modiin, where it came close to a ground proximity warning while executing a 180 degree turn back towards a 280 heading to the airfield. Whether or not warning klaxons and flashing pull-up signs went off in the cockpit is not disclosed.
A Canadian pilot writes :
" The procedure not only has tight airspace restrictions due to the Jerusalem overflight restrictions, but requires you to stay tight to the airport downwind, then lose lots of speed and lots of altitude while executing a 180 degree turn and attempting to line up with the runway, and configure for landing, all at the same time.
It is especially a tough approach for a First Officer to execute, especially in reduced visibility conditions or at night, for the simple reason that he will be executing a left 180 degree turn from the right seat. And when the Captain is executing the approach, it is extremely difficult or almost impossible for the F/O to monitor outside the cockpit while the Captain attempts to maintain visual contact, due to the requirement to monitor parameters inside."
Pilot error due possibly to an over-reliance on instruments. Eventually the crew became alarmed by a visual check out of the window, if passengers had not already become alarmed by looking out of their windows or if residents of Modiin had not been alarmed by looking up.
As a result the US FAA have downgraded Israeli aviation safety to a category 2 along with Paraguay, Gambia and Nicaragua. The captain concerned was demoted to first officer status and will have to requalify as a captain in command. In an extreme situation the US may not allow El Al to fly to its airports at all.