Israel scrambled fighter jets for passenger plane after false hijacking report
Polish airline LOT reported that Bulgaria's Electra Airways operated a flight from Warsaw to Tel Aviv when the crew reported an emergency situation. The report was later canceled after contact with air traffic controllers, said airline spokesperson Krzysztof Moczulski. In a statement, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense said the aircraft transmitted squawk code 7500 – an emergency signal for unlawful interference or hijacking. Sofia also scrambled a MiG-29 fighter to intercept the aircraft and escort it through Bulgarian airspace. The flight was diverted to Burgas in Bulgaria, where Electra Airways is based, Moczulski said. According to the Israeli military, two air force fighters were scrambled toward the civilian aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea after receiving a report of lost communication with the aircraft. The military later said the incident was not security-related. 'In this situation, we have no reason to take action,' said Warsaw Chopin Airport spokesperson Piotr Rudzki. According to him, the Bulgarian airline reported a pilot error, so we don't need to take any action. 'We are monitoring the situation; nothing indicates any (external) interference,' he added.
