An American citizen was arrested on Thursday after trying to force open the doors of an El Al jet bound for New York seconds before take-off from Ben Gurion airport.

Passengers and crew jointly overpowered the man, and he was arrested by Ben Gurion police officers who boarded the plane.

"We are seeking to understand why he tried to open the doors," Israel Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told the Jerusalem Post, adding that the man may be suffering from a psychological condition.

The plane's take-off was delayed by approximately two hours.