http://www.boston.com/dailynews/144/world/Israel_shoots_down_Lebanese_ci:.shtml

Israel shoots down Lebanese civilian plane, army says

By Greg Myre, Associated Press, 5/24/2001 06:04

JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli military aircraft shot down a small Lebanese civilian plane Thursday after it crossed into Israel's air space and for 15 minutes refused to respond to radio contact, the army said.

The pilot was believed to be the only person on board the Cessna, which crashed down on Israel's Mediterranean coast, about 30 miles north of Tel Aviv, the army added.

The plane took off from the Lebanese capital Beirut, and was spotted by the military as it crossed into Israel, the army said.

Israeli warplanes and helicopters made repeated attempts to contact the Cessna, but the pilot refused to respond or identify himself. After 15 minutes, the plane was shot down, said army spokesman Jacob Dallal.

The Israeli army was on alert for possible attacks by the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah on Thursday, the first anniversary of Israel's military withdrawal from south Lebanon.

''We took into account that in light of the threats by Hezbollah, this was an attempt at a terrorist attack on an Israeli city,'' said army spokesman Lt. Col. Olivier Rafowicz.

He said the army had been fearing a suicide plane attack.

The Israeli aircraft fired warning shots, and ''there also was eye contact and signs made at (the pilot),'' Rafowicz said.

There was no immediate word on whether the plane was carrying any weapons or explosives.

In Lebanon, the pilot was identified as Stefan Nikolian, 43, a Lebanese of Armenian heritage, said Nemeh Malek, director of the plane's owner, JR Executives.

Malek told The Associated Press in Beirut that the pilot had flown three or four times this week with a trained pilot.

''Today, he got on the plane, started the engine and took off, leaving the pilot behind,'' Malek added.

Nikolian was not licensed to fly without a trainer, Malek said.

Asked what prompted the pilot's actions, Malek replied: ''Nobody knows.''

Hezbollah, in a broadcast on its radio station, was first to identify Nikolian. The station did not say whether he was linked to Hezbollah, which fought Israel's forces for years in south Lebanon.

Hezbollah has continued to carry out occasional attacks on a disputed patch of land along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

The Israelis also say that Hezbollah has been assisting the Palestinians with their uprising against the Israelis.

Since the latest outbreak of fighting in late September, more than 470 people have been killed on the Palestinian side and 85 on the Israeli side.

A diplomatic push began this week to halt the violence with the release of a truce plan proposed by an international commission headed by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell. But there's been no letup in the daily clashes, mostly in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian militants lobbed mortars at a Jewish settlement Thursday and Israeli tanks responded by rumbling into Palestinian territory, firing shells and machine guns.

-- Anonymous, May 24, 2001

Answers

BBC version:

Thursday, 24 May, 2001, 11:51 GMT 12:51 UK

Israel downs Lebanese plane

The Israeli army has shot down a Lebanese plane which it said had crossed into its territory near the port city of Haifa, killing its pilot.

An army spokesman said it was a small passenger plane with only the pilot on board.

Lebanese officials have identified him as a Lebanese-Armenian trainee pilot who took off without permission.

The Israeli version has been disputed by a Lebanese official who says the aircraft was intercepted over Lebanese territory and forced into Israeli airspace, where it was shot down.

Israeli army officials told the BBC that the Cessna aircraft had failed to respond to warnings from Israeli helicopters and warplanes even after a warning shot was fired.

They said the plane was tracked after it took off from Beirut and was eventually brought down on the Mikhmoret beach near the town of Netanya.

The army says it took the decision after the aircraft approached populated areas.

"We live under the threat of suicide bombs either on the ground or by sea, and we know the potential of doing that from the air. So after 15 minutes of giving it a chance we decided it was too risky to allow it to continue," Brigadier-general Ron Kitri said.

The area where the wreckage of the plane is located has been cordoned off and an investigation is under way to look for evidence that may establish if the aircraft was a threat.

Pilot

Lebanese aviation officials said the pilot was not authorised to fly on his own.

"Armenian Stephan Nicolian, 30, took off suddenly from Beirut airport, leaving his instructor on the tarmac, and headed without authorisation toward southern Lebanon," the official said.

Transport Minister Nagib Mikati said Mr Nicolian lost his way and that Israeli fighter jets started following him while he was still in Lebanese air space, nine kilometres from the border.

He said there were no arms on board the aircraft or on the pilot but added that the intentions of Mr Nicolian was unclear.

The militant group Hezbollah was the first to name the pilot but did not say if he was linked to the organisation.

Correspondents say the Israeli army was apparently on alert for fear of attacks from Hezbollah guerrillas on the anniversary of the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May last year.

Hezbollah has continued to carry out occasional attacks on a disputed patch of land on the border between Lebanon and Israel.

"We took into account that in light of the threats by Hezbollah, this was an attempt at a terrorist attack on an Israeli city," army spokesman Lt Col Olivier Rafowicz said.

The day is being marked as a public holiday in Lebanon with official celebrations to mark the liberation.

-- Anonymous, May 24, 2001