[3][4] It was destined to leave from Palma de Mallorca for Tunis where the FLN leaders were to conference with Prime Minister Habib Bourguiba, but French forces intercepted the civilian aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea and redirected the flight to occupied Algiers, where the FLN leaders were arrested, derailing the planned conference in Tunis.

[1] France disapproved of the meeting and Alain Savary, French Secretary of State for Tunisian and Moroccan Affairs under Guy Mollet, announced the suspension of aid to Morocco.

[1] 22 October at midday, with fake documents, the FLN delegation left Rabat for Tunis by way of Palma in Spain in order to avoid flying over Algeria to circumvent France.

Leftist French media reacted with extreme hostility, leading to the resignation of Alain Savary, Secretary of State for Moroccan and Tunisian Affairs, along with his chief of staff, Claude Cheysson.

On his part, Guy Mollet was furious; the operation occurred without his knowledge, and secret negotiations that had been initiated in Rome with the FLN were abruptly terminated.