Israel downs Lebanese plane

Israeli soldiers examine the wreckage of the 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.

Wreckage

The plane's wreckage crashed near a military training school on the Mikhmoret beach.

I looked up when I heard the shooting and saw a plane splintering into pieces

Eyewitness Assaf Pollak

Witnesses said the plane blew up and parts of the wreckage fell on the roof of the office of the assistant principal.

"I looked up when I heard the shooting and saw a plane splintering into pieces," said an instructor at the school, Assaf Pollak.

"It spun through the air before hitting the ground."

Assistant principal Nitza Kramer said the roof of her office collapsed and then she "tip-toed out of the room and saw the (pilot's) body in pieces."

The area 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.

We took into account that in light of the threats by Hezbollah, this was an attempt at a terrorist attack on an Israeli city

Lt Col Olivier Rafowicz, Israeli army

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.