Flight to Israel Triggers Hijacking Alert, Prompting Fighter Jet Response

LOT Flight 155, operated by the Bulgarian airline Electra Airways and headed from Warsaw to Tel Aviv, was involved today (Tuesday) in an unusual incident after a hijacking alert was activated from the cockpit during the flight. Following the alert, immediate security measures were taken, and fighter jets were scrambled toward the aircraft.

According to reports, during the flight the pilot pressed the button designated for declaring a hijacking incident. A short time later, he updated authorities that it had been pressed by mistake and canceled the alert. Despite the clarification, officials in Israel decided not to take any chances, and the incident was handled according to security protocols.

During the incident, while the plane was in Turkish airspace, the hijacking alert was received. The aircraft then continued toward Cyprus, but it was not allowed to land in Israel and was diverted toward the island. Later, after it also did not receive landing approval in Cyprus, it changed course again and will apparently land in Bulgaria.

Sources in the aviation industry described the case as highly unusual. According to them, this is an incident with both safety and security implications, and an immediate investigation will be opened to clarify the circumstances behind the activation of the hijacking alert.