A twin-engined Lebanese Airways Dakota plane, carrying 25 members of the United Nations Emergency Force, was intercepted by Israeli fighters today over Israel air-space near Haifa, and forced to land at Lydda Airport near this city.
The three Lebanese crewmen said they had noted some fighters in the air, but thought the intercepting planes were MIGs flown by Syrian airmen. The plane was carrying the UNEF men from the UNEF airport at El Arish, in the Sinai Peninsula, to Beirut.
While the Lebanese crew was being interrogated, the UNEF men were given lunch at the Lydda airport restaurant. After questioning the crew, Israeli officials permitted the UNEF soldiers to resume their vacation flight.
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