Israeli aircraft used secret on-board defences - claim

Airline Industry Information, Dec 2, 2002

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Intelligence and arms experts have suggested that an Israeli aircraft which narrowly avoided two missiles on 28 November may have used secret on-board defences.

The Boeing 757-300 aircraft belonging to the Arkia charter company had recently departed from Mombasa, Kenya, when two missiles were fired at it. The aircraft narrowly evaded the two heat-seeking missiles, thus raising speculation that it had used decoy flares.

The aircraft, carrying 260 passengers and ten crew members, continued its scheduled flight to Tel Aviv without further incident, reported Reuters.

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