A false alarm about the hijacking of a civilian plane mobilizes Israeli and Bulgarian fighters

The Israeli army said that two Israeli fighter jets were sent on Tuesday towards a civilian plane over the Mediterranean Sea, while European officials confirmed that the pilot mistakenly sent a code indicating that the plane had been hijacked.

Polish airline LOT said the flight, operated by Bulgaria’s Electra Airways, was heading from Warsaw to Tel Aviv when the crew “reported an emergency.”

“This report was canceled during subsequent communications with air traffic control,” company spokesman Krzesztof Mochulski told AFP.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense said that a Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter took off to intercept and escort an Airbus A320 plane as it was crossing Bulgarian airspace, after broadcasting a code indicating the possibility of illegal interference on board, before its course was diverted.

For its part, the Israeli army said in a statement, “Two Israeli Air Force fighters were sent towards a civilian aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea, following a report of the loss of contact with the aircraft.”

He added that the incident ended and contact was restored with the plane, noting that “there is no concern about a security incident.”

A spokesman for Warsaw’s Chopin Airport said, “No action is needed on our part. We are monitoring the situation, and nothing indicates any external interference.”