A massive security scare ensued as an Israeli soldier committed suicide while French President Nicolas Sarkozy boarded a plane to leave Israel. Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, were quickly rushed up their plane's stairs by security guards when the shot was heard.

Reports from the ground indicate that a border soldier shot himself as Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and president Shimon Perez arrived at Ben-Gurion airport to see off Sarkozy and his wife, who had been in the country for three days.

Confusion still surrounds the incident, and it was not immediately clear whether the soldier intentionally shot himself, or whether he had fainted, causing the gun to go off accidentally.

During the incident, Olmert and Peres were also rushed to safety in armored vehicles. They returned, however, to say their goodbyes to the French president and his wife.