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Over 150 passengers on board an Iranian plane were evacuated on Thursday evening after its landing at Beirut airport following interception by U.S. warplanes.
A source at the airport told Xinhua that some of the passengers suffered mild injuries.
The Iranian plane, operated by Mahan Airlines, changed altitude and made a quick landing at the airport after U.S. warplanes blocked its passage over Syrian airspace, to avoid collision with the U.S. aircraft, local media reported.
Two warplanes believed to be with the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition intercepted the Iranian passenger jet over the al-Tanf area in southeastern Syria, as the plane was flying on a trip from Iran to Lebanon, Syrian state news agency SANA reported, citing sources at the Syrian Civilian Aviation department.
The warplanes pushed the pilot of the plane to take a steep dive down, which led to injuries among the passengers. However, the plane continued its flight to Beirut, said SANA.
Meanwhile, a video footage went online, showing people shouting inside the plane at the time of the incident.
The incident is the first of its kind in Syria but it adds to the tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
