Israeli Arab held for El Al hijack bid

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.

In Israel, police searched the home of the man’s father and questioned several of his relatives.

Security guards aboard the El Al airliner overpowered the man, who was apparently armed with a pocket knife and threatened a stewardess. None of the 170 passengers on board the Boeing 757 was harmed and the plane landed safely in Istanbul.

The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Israeli Arab, Tawfiq Fukra, was being questioned by anti-terrorism squads in Istanbul.

The semi-official Turkish news agency Anatolia said the man intended to scare passengers to denounce Israel’s treatment of Arabs.

In northern Israel, police searched the home of Fukra’s father, confiscated a computer and questioned several relatives who were all later released.

El Al general manager Amos Shapira said the passenger ”tried to reach the cockpit with what we assume now is a small pocket knife,” but was overpowered by security guards.

Fukra’s father, Salah, said his son should not be called a hijacker just because he fought with a stewardess. He said his son works with the elderly in the village of Rahat and was going on holiday to Turkey.

Okay Cakirlar, an official at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport, said El Al Flight 581, a Boeing 757, sent out a hijacking signal as it approached Istanbul.

Passengers said two security guards overpowered the man.

Nehama Snelzo, an Israeli tourist, said the man looked scared when he was overpowered.

“He seemed to be very scared, he started saying ’I’m going to Istanbul to see a friend, I’m not a threat,”’ Snelzo said.

El Al’s formidable security includes armed guards at check-in, on-board marshals and extensive searches of luggage. Passengers are told to arrive three hours ahead of flights to allow enough time for the security checks.