Report: Captain on Israel-bound flight from Spain announced 'landing in Palestine'

Israeli passengers on Iberia Airlines plane incensed by remarks made in Spanish and English, according to Channel 2 report.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: OCTOBER 28, 2015 22:13
A Spanish airline Iberia plane [File] (photo credit: REUTERS)
A Spanish airline Iberia plane [File]
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The captain of a flight from Spain enraged Israeli passengers Wednesday after announcing that a plane approaching Ben-Gurion Airport "would be landing shortly in Palestine," Channel 2 reported.
According to the report, the captain first made the overhead announcement in Spanish and afterward stated in English that in a few minutes the plane would descend into Tel Aviv.
Passengers traveling on the aircraft operated by Spanish airline Iberia said that the captain never mentioned the word "Israel" during his in-flight updates.
One passenger, Lior, told Channel 2 that he was "somewhat overwhelmed" by the incident.
"Everyone started whispering, we were just in shock, I don't understand why he said that," he added. "We live in the State of Israel and he should have said 'Israel,' he didn't absentmindedly say it in English, it was intentional - and even more so in this tense time."
Another passenger told the Israeli news channel that the captain's choice of words "was unacceptable, we all noticed it."
Meanwhile, another passenger reportedly sent a letter of complaint to the airline.
"My family and I were incredibly offended, it was completely inappropriate and it does not do service to your company," Channel 2 quoted the letter as saying.