An Israeli aircraft en route to Germany was today forced to make an emergency landing in Bulgaria after a passenger started cursing the people around him and punched a crew member on the face.
A witness on the El-Al flight en route to Munich told Israeli web sites that the passenger suddenly got out of his seat and ran down the aisle, banged on the lavatory door and began shouting "there are terrorists here."
According to the airline, crew members tried to restrain him but he began lashing out at them and attacked one of them.
The plane got permission to land in Sofia, Bulgaria, where the passenger was removed from the plane, media reports said.
The staff member did not sustain significant injuries in the attack. The motive for the attack was not clear.
The passenger is in the custody of local security officials and would be sent back to Israel.
After an hour the plane continued on its way to Munich.
