Pilots and air tower control operators are shutting down Ben Gurion airport between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. (8 a.m.-10 a.m. EDT) Wednesday to protest radio frequency interference.

Cyprus officials already have cancelled one flight to Israel, and take-offs from Ben Gurion have been delayed. The radio interference is coming not only from pirate radio stations but also from local sources, such as cell phone operations and private communications systems.

An airport official said that government officials have ignored warnings that the interferences are life-threatening. He warned that future flights may have to be grounded.