Hungarian fighter jets scrambled after Israeli passenger jet lost contact with controllers

NATO activated its highest air-defense alert level on Thursday after a Hungarian response to an Israeli passenger flight raised concern over Hungarian airspace. The incident became public on Friday, when reports said the aircraft had not been in contact with air traffic controllers while crossing Hungary.

According to Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar, defense forces sent two JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets to escort the Airbus A321, which was on a scheduled flight from Tel Aviv to Prague. Magyar said on social media that the action followed instructions from NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre.

The Israeli plane was later escorted by the Gripens until it left Hungarian airspace. No one has yet explained why the aircraft initially failed to contact air traffic control. The reports did not say the flight was in danger, but they described the lack of communication as the trigger for the military response.