False Hijacking Signal Grounds Flight from Warsaw to Tel Aviv in Bulgaria

New details have emerged about a distress signal mistakenly sent during a flight from Warsaw to Tel Aviv on Tuesday. The flight, operated by a foreign company but sold by Electra, transmitted a hijacking alert, prompting Israeli fighter jets to escort the plane. The aircraft was diverted and landed in Burgas, Bulgaria, where passengers were held until authorities confirmed the situation was safe.

Passenger Amnon Moav recounted the tense experience in an interview with Channel 12. About an hour before landing, the pilot announced a security issue in Tel Aviv preventing landing clearance, leading to multiple holding patterns. After being denied landing in Larnaca and Greece, the plane headed to Burgas. Upon landing, passengers learned from push notifications that their flight had been reported as hijacked, explaining the armed security presence on the ground.

Moav described the atmosphere as anxious, with the crew instructing passengers to remain seated and doors initially locked. The pilot used video calls to reassure ground personnel that everyone was safe. The plane was surrounded by heavy police and armed forces for about 30 to 40 minutes before passengers were allowed to disembark in small groups with only their passports.

Passengers did not notice the fighter jets escorting the plane. Bulgarian authorities later stated the distress signal was caused by a technical malfunction, not a deliberate button press. The delay in Burgas was to ensure the aircraft was safe to continue its journey. The flight eventually departed Burgas around 23:30 and proceeded to Israel.

This incident highlights the complexities of aviation security and the potential for technical errors to cause significant disruptions and alarm.