The first anniversary of Israel\'s withdrawal from Lebanon has its security forces on high alert for a terrorist \"commemorative\" attack today - and the increased precautions paid off late this morning. The Israel Air Force tracked and followed a small Lebanese Cessna plane - first by radar, then by planes, then by helicopters - from the moment it set off on an unauthorized flight from Beirut into Israel late this morning. Once it crossed into Israel, apparently near Rosh HaNikra, the Israelis signaled it several times to stop, with no results. Fearing the worst, the Israelis had no choice but to down it, which they did over the coastal town of Mikhmoret, between Caesaria and Netanya. The lone pilot was killed in the crash.
Dudu Cohen, a resident of Mikhmoret, lives in the town\'s first row of houses near the beach: He told Arutz-7, \"Around 11:30 AM, I saw a little low-flying plane surrounded weirdly by three helicopters... Suddenly a burst of fire came out of one, and the light plane burst into pieces, which fell all around us...\" Other reports said that two F-16s were following the Cessna, and were later joined by Apache helicopters. Residents all along the coast also said they saw the low-flying plane.
An investigation is underway to ascertain whether the lone pilot was in fact on his way to commit a suicide attack, or was a beginning pilot who had lost his way. Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz explained today that even in the latter eventuality, the danger of the plane\'s accidental crashing into a residential area was too great to allow the plane to continue flying.
Lebanese radio stations, including a Hizbullah station, are reporting that the pilot was an innocent Cypriot citizen who was hijacked by Israeli jets from Lebanese airspace.
Dudu Cohen, a resident of Mikhmoret, lives in the town\'s first row of houses near the beach: He told Arutz-7, \"Around 11:30 AM, I saw a little low-flying plane surrounded weirdly by three helicopters... Suddenly a burst of fire came out of one, and the light plane burst into pieces, which fell all around us...\" Other reports said that two F-16s were following the Cessna, and were later joined by Apache helicopters. Residents all along the coast also said they saw the low-flying plane.
An investigation is underway to ascertain whether the lone pilot was in fact on his way to commit a suicide attack, or was a beginning pilot who had lost his way. Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz explained today that even in the latter eventuality, the danger of the plane\'s accidental crashing into a residential area was too great to allow the plane to continue flying.
Lebanese radio stations, including a Hizbullah station, are reporting that the pilot was an innocent Cypriot citizen who was hijacked by Israeli jets from Lebanese airspace.
