An Israeli citizen was attacked by a Sudanese Muslim on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Chad to Ethiopia last week, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday night.

"The Sudanese attacker was detained by the Ethiopian police when the plane landed in Addis Ababa and remains in custody," the ministry said.

Ethiopian Airlines identified the attacker in a statement as Ahmed Alsheikhidris Mohamed

The Israeli embassy in Addis Ababa has been notified by the local authorities.

The incident was first reported by the Ynet website.

The 54-year-old Israeli, who was identified as Arik Zenouda, said that the Sudanese national attacked from behind and tried to strangle him when the plane began its descent into Addis Ababa.

"He hit me on the head with a metal tray, shouting 'Allah Akhbar' amd 'Itbach al Yehud,'" Arik told Ynet.

"In the beginning I was unable to make a sound or call for help. It was only after a few seconds, when I was on the verge of losing consciousness, that I managed to scream. A stewardess saw what was going on and called other members of the cabin crew.

"Even after they distanced him from me, he tried to hit me and shouted in Arabic. Some of the cabin crew took me to the back of the plane while others guarded him in the front."

Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement that the attacker didn't show any signs of violence prior to boarding the flight. "He didn't only attack the Israeli passenger, but other passengers and crew members as well," the statement said, adding that the attacker has been banned from flying with the company again.

Ethiopian Airlines apologized for the incident, and noted that since it started its activities in Israel, no Israeli passengers have been subject to violence on its flights.