El Al plane intercepted and accompanied by French, Greek and Israeli fighter jets after bomb threat.
By YAAKOV KATZ, JPOST.COM STAFF
A passenger plane from Paris was intercepted by fighter jets and escorted to Ben Gurion International Airport Wednesday night after information was received that there may be an explosive on board.
The incident proved to be a false alarm, and the El Al 767 landed safely at Tel Aviv.
Before taking off from Paris, French authorities had checked the plane and ruled out the possibility of a bomb on board, however nevertheless it was decided, in consultation with Israeli authorities, that two French fighter jets would be dispatched to accompany the plane.
As the 767 approached Greece, the French accompaniment was replaced by Greek jets, which were subsequently replaced by IAF F-15 fighter jets as the plane neared Israel. The Israeli jets took off from Tel Nof air force base.
Defense officials said that from take-off the possibility of a bomb on board the plane had been ruled out; however the decision to organize an accompaniment was made as a precaution.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert were updated through all stages of the process.
According to a Channel 10 report, fears of an explosive onboard the plane were roused by an email received prior to take-off.
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