The Saudi Arabian C-130 military transport plane that was intercepted after penetrating Israeli air space yesterday left Ben Gurion Airport today for Riyadh. The crew members, which included three Americans, and 31 passengers, thanked Israel for the hospitality extended them. The plane, which was on its way from Damascus to Riyadh, was intercepted when it entered Israeli airspace near Rosh Hanikra on a course that would have taken it over Israel. The Saudi Arabian pilot obeyed instructions to land at Ben Gurion.
(In Washington, the State Department said the three Americans–Arthur Phillips. Larry Chandler and Charles Smith–are civilians employed by the Lockheed Company under a contract with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense for maintaining aircraft and training personnel of the Saudian air force. “They are not connected in any way with the U.S. government.” said Department spokesman John Trattner.)
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