Israeli Fighter Jets Intercept Civilian Plane After Hijack Alert Over Turkey

An Electra Airways Airbus A320 flying from Warsaw to Israel under the LOT brand triggered a hijack alert while over Turkish airspace. The pilot reportedly pressed the hijack warning button, prompting Israeli Air Force fighter jets to scramble and intercept the aircraft. The plane circled near Cyprus but did not receive landing clearance there, eventually diverting to Burgas, Bulgaria, where it underwent security checks to rule out any threat.

Israeli military officials confirmed that two fighter jets were dispatched due to a loss of communication with the civilian plane. Contact was later reestablished, and the incident was declared non-threatening. Aviation authorities described the event as highly unusual and dangerous, initiating an immediate investigation. Some sources suspect the hijack alert may have been accidental or retracted by the pilot, and this aspect is under review.

The Israeli Defense Forces emphasized that there was no security risk following the incident, which concluded without further escalation. The investigation aims to clarify the circumstances behind the hijack alert and the subsequent flight path changes over the Mediterranean.