An Israeli Arab student accused of trying to hijack an El Al flight today denied planning to seize control of the plane and crash it into a Tel Aviv skyscraper.

A man who tried to storm the cockpit during an Israeli airline flight to Istanbul told interrogators today that he attempted to “create fear” aboard the plane in protest at the treatment of Palestinians.

Turkey’s NTV television said 23-year-old Israeli Arab, Tawfiq Fukra had told interrogators today that he wanted to divert a plane to Tel Aviv and crash it into a building in a September 11 style attack.