The main departures hall in the Beirut International Airport. (Credit AFP/archive photo)
BEIRUT — Lebanese Member of Parliament Waddah Sadek, also member of the Oct. 17, 2019 protest movement, condemned the "corruption and insecurity" within Beirut International Airport (BIA) this Thursday at a parliament meeting. During a press conference, he criticized judicial officials and political entities for their failure to address these issues.
Sadek said he had intended to speak out even before the cyberattack on BIA on Jan. 7, when the airport’s screens were hacked and made to display warning messages to Hezbollah instead of regular flight information. The lawmaker devoted much of his address to the hacking incident, lamenting the "obsolescence" of computer equipment and the "incompetence" of the cybersecurity officials involved.
He pointed out that the airport still uses operating systems like Windows XP and Windows 7, which are thirteen years old. In response to those who say that many airports around the world face cyber security issues, Sadek emphasized that others are protected with cutting-edge technology and questioned, “Where are the firewalls that developed countries’ airports use?” Firewalls are software solutions that define authorized types of network communication.
Sadek also expressed concern over "administrative negligence," claiming that information system security staff were hired based on political allegiances rather than competence, with political parties (which he did not name) controlling the airport and preferring "blind allegiance" over expertise.
Furthermore, the MP criticized the gifts of "gold books," small pieces of pure gold, handed out to airport employees during end-of-year celebrations, but didn't say who distributed them.
He also touched on the critical shortage of air traffic controllers at BIA, noting that only thirteen controllers are overseeing air traffic, while at least eighty are necessary.
It's not clear where exactly Sadek got this number from, but a New York Times article published last month about the shortage of air traffic controllers in the US quoted a former controller who worked in an Atlanta (Georgia) airport as saying that in 2022, there were 77 fully certified controllers at her location, which was below the target of 110.
Sadek criticized the quota distribution system, which has led to this severe staffing shortage, and the fact that thirty-five qualified controller candidates remain unemployed due to the lack of necessary training sessions.
Sadek also mentioned a flood incident on Dec. 12 at the airport, which temporarily suspended flights, likely caused by poorly maintained infrastructure. He warned this type of incident poses safety risks for the airport and travelers alike but commended the efforts of the Court of Audit and the Judicial Inspection in investigating these matters.
Addressing high-level nepotism and the irregularities in contract renewals at BIA, the MP blamed "cronyism" and "corruption," and disclosed that three months ago, along with 18 other MPs, he had requested a judicial inquiry into the situation at the airport with the public prosecutor's office, which has so far gone unheeded.
A source close to the public prosecutor's office responded to Sadek's allegations of inaction, suggesting they were part of a broader narrative about institutional collapse aimed at tarnishing the airport's image. The source defended the office by stating that it has fulfilled its duties by forwarding case files to the financial prosecutor and investigative judges in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, despite logistical constraints. The justice system alone cannot conduct investigations, they asserted, highlighting the vital role of security services.