Airborne security scare: False hijack alert forces Tel Aviv-bound flight to divert

A LOT Polish Airlines flight from Warsaw to Tel Aviv was diverted to Bulgaria on Tuesday after an accidental hijack alert triggered a large-scale security response, including disruptive fighter jets from Israel and Bulgaria. Business Insider reported.

The plane, operating as LOT Polish Airlines Flight 155 and operated by Electra Airways, took off from Warsaw at 11:35 local time before changing course en route. According to FlightAware flight tracking data, the Airbus A320 circled over the Mediterranean Sea near Cyprus before diverting to Burgas, Bulgaria, where it landed safely at 5:13 p.m. local time.

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The Israeli military neutralized the fighters after losing contact

According to a statement shared by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with The Times of Israel, two fighter jets were deployed after air traffic authorities were temporarily unable to establish contact with the passenger plane.

The military later said contact with the aircraft was re-established during the incident.

“There is no fear of a security incident,” the IDF said.

The unusual sequence of events unfolded after it was later confirmed that the plane’s emergency security transponder code had been accidentally activated.

The airline says the hijack code was activated by mistake

A representative of LOT Polish Airlines told Business Insider that the distress signal indicating the hijacking was triggered by mistake.

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According to the airline, the “erroneous” emergency responder code was “subsequently canceled during further communication with air traffic control”.

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport also confirmed to The Times of Israel that the hijack alert was false. The ministry said Bulgarian fighter jets were dispatched to escort the plane after an intercom indicated “illegal jamming/hijacking”.

Officials attributed the alert to a “technical fault with the aircraft’s transponder.”

Passengers checked after emergency landing

After the plane’s arrival in Burgas, the passengers were escorted off the plane and underwent a security check by the Bulgarian police before being taken to a holding area.

LOT Polish Airlines later apologized to passengers and described the incident as an extraordinary operational event.

In a note to passengers obtained exclusively by Business Insider, the airline said:

“The diversion of your flight to Burgas was caused by the inadvertent activation of an on-board security alarm. In accordance with applicable security procedures, the aircraft was diverted to (the) alternate airport so that the situation could be fully clarified with the relevant authorities.”

The airline also emphasized that such cases are very unusual.

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“Situations of this nature are extremely rare and not part of normal flight operations. However, the safety and security of our passengers and crew must always remain our highest priority.”

LOT Polish Airlines also told Business Insider that passengers have been instructed to follow the instructions issued by local authorities after landing and will receive further updates as more information becomes available.

The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for further comment.

Escort of fighter jets used during aviation security emergencies

Military aircraft are occasionally deployed to escort commercial passenger flights when authorities detect potential security threats or lose contact with the aircraft. Such measures may be taken in response to suspected hijackings, bomb threats or prolonged loss of contact with air traffic control.

Earlier in 2025, an American Airlines flight traveling from New York to Delhi was escorted by fighter jets before diverting to Rome after receiving a bomb threat. Authorities later determined the incident was also a false alarm.

Tuesday’s diversion involving a Warsaw-Tel Aviv flight ended without any reported injuries after authorities concluded that the emergency alert was triggered inadvertently and not by a genuine security incident.