First Direct Flight Brings Soviet Jewish Emigres to Israel
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TEL AVIV — The first direct flight carrying Soviet Jewish immigrants arrived Wednesday after being delayed by a dispute over flight paths.
The plane landed at Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv carrying eight immigrants and officials of the Soviet charter company Aerolight, which is operating the flights.
No dignitaries greeted the newcomers. On Tuesday, a host of Israeli and Soviet officials had waited in vain at the airport. Airline officials said the company had failed to get clearance to fly over Turkish airspace.
Since Soviet exit rules were relaxed in early 1989, most of the 320,000 Jewish immigrants have arrived via Bucharest, Romania; Budapest, Hungary, or Warsaw.
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