Cypriot protests after Israeli jets force airliner into flight control zone

LARNACA, Cyprus, Oct 5 (AFP) - Cyprus issued a strong protest Tuesday after Israeli warplanes forced a German airliner into their flight control zone without prior authorization amid what proved to be a false bomb alert.
The foreign ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador over the action taken against the Tel Aviv-bound Lufthansa flight, which was forced to land at the airport at this southern coastal resort, private Sigma television reported.
Public television said protests would also be filed with the international civil aviation authorities as well as the Israeli communications ministry.
"The plane was escorted by Israeli jets to some 60 nautical miles off the Larnaca coast before retreating," complained Communications Minister Haris Thrasou.
"Israel would not allow the plane to land."
The distance is outside Cypriot airspace but well within the Nicosia flight information region covered by control towers on the Mediterranean island.
Just over six hours after the Boeing 747 touched down here, the 331 passengers and 18 crew took off again for Tel Aviv at 9:22 pm (1822 GMT) after no bomb was found, airport officials told AFP.
The plane had left Frankfurt at 10:10 am (0810 GMT).
Sniffer dogs had searched the cockpit and cabin and given the all clear before the cargo and luggage were unloaded and inspected.
In Berlin, a Lufthansa spokeswoman told AFP that the bomb alert had been discounted from the outset.
"We came to the conclusion with the German authorities that this alert was not serious. We wanted to fly through to Tel Aviv but the Israeli authorities forced us to land in Larnaca," she said.
Cyprus Justice Minister Doros Theodorou said the aircraft had only been allowed to land at Larnaca without the normal clearance "for humanitarian reasons".
Military sources in Jerusalem confirmed that the bomb scare aboard the airliner had prompted the air force to be put on "very high alert".
The internet edition of Israel's Haaretz newspaper said F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to escort the plane and keep it out of Israeli airspace.