Israel is in Mourning for Air Victims; Bitter Anguish at Lydda Airport

All of Israel was in mourning today for the victims of Saturday’s Swiss air disaster. The chief military chaplain, Rabbi Shlomo Goren, flew to Zurich to help identify the bodies of the 16 Israelis aboard the plane, some of whom were reportedly burned beyond recognition when the Swiss Coronado jet crashed in flames. Chaplain Goren will arrange for the return of the remains to Israel for burial. Those who cannot be identified will be interred in a common grave. Scenes of bitter anguish took place at Lydda Airport Saturday where the families of the Swiss air passengers gathered in late afternoon, unaware that tragedy had struck. All of them apparently had missed the 5 p.m. radio news bulletin reporting the crash. A chill went through the crowd when a Swiss air official invited all waiting relatives into the VIP room where he solemnly read the passenger list and announced that there were no survivors.

Each name was greeted with a scream of despair. A doctor was in attendance. No one required medical attention but tragedy was written on the faces of everyone at the air terminal whether or not they had relatives aboard the stricken plane. Deputy Premier Yigal Allon phoned the airport to confirm his fears that his old friend and associate, Haunch Lev Kochav, was one of the victims. The 41 year-old Palmach veteran and law teacher served as director general of the Public Works Ministry when Mr. Allon was Minister of Labor. Another prominent victim was Prof, Hanoch Melvidzky, 58, head of the cardio-vascular department of the Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital in Jerusalem, a pioneer of open heart surgery in Israel. Other victims were: Michael Koren, 39, electronic engineer; Hanoch Lev Kochav, 41, former general director of the Labour Ministry; Mordechai Moneh, 41, architect; Raphael Neuberger,43, chemical engineer; Benjamin Aboutboul, 44; Nathan Ellenzweig, diamond broker; Adella llan, 56, fashion expert; Marcel Attaya, 30, Swiss air local employee; Ada Freudenberg, wife of Swiss air local employee; Dr. Paul Horn. 64, textile expert and industrialist; Melani Horn, his wife, 60. president of Israel ORT; Mrs. Ruth Golan; Mrs. Herta Wurtmann, 70; Yerzy Brzezovski, 48, new immigrant from Poland; and Dr. Naim Kral Young, 33, surgeon.