Violent passenger forces Israel Airlines flight to land in Sofia

dpa/SofiaA violent passenger forced an El Al flight to an unscheduled landing in the Bulgarian capital Sofia Thursday, a spokeswoman for the airline confirmed in Tel Aviv.  The spokeswoman said the passenger, identified as a German national on a flight from Tel Aviv to Munich, was handed to police after the landing. The flight continued without him after an hour.  Israeli media quoted witnesses as saying that the man verbally abused other passengers and attacked a flight attendant. Bulgarian national radio said the passenger had also run up and down the aisle, banging on the lavatory door and screaming: "Terrorists are hiding here."  Bulgarian radio however identified the man was an Austrian currently processed by border authorities for a return to Tel Aviv.  An explanation for the passenger's behaviour is not yet available.