Algerian man raises panic in French aircraft

French security forces Thursday ordered air traffic control towers to give immediate instructions to an aircraft of Aigle Azur airline to change its destination from the International Airport of Algiers Houari Boumediene to Marseille airport following an alert over the presence of a criminal in the aircraft.

Passengers in the aircraft No 259 experienced a panic and anxiety state because of an alert issued by French security forces when the plane was about to leave the French territorial borders to enter the Algerian air domain.

Witnesses told Echorouk the passengers were confused and anxious as they were afraid of a possible terrorist attack.

According to the emergency landing timing, a passenger committed a crime before he had got into the plane at Paris Airport. French borders guards arrested an Algerian-born man living in France. Later, security forces found out that they made an error and it was not the wanted man.

Information show that the criminal is from Tunisia and not Algeria. Yet, the French police kept detaining the Algerian pending for investigation. The aircraft was released to resume its destination towards the Algerian capital.