![\"False](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/poland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1782892752.webp\" "\\"False")
<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Photo credit: Anna Zvereva<\/p>\n
According to Bulgaria\u2019s public broadcaster BNT and Israeli media reports, an Airbus A320 operating as LOT flight LO155 for Electra Airways mistakenly sent a hijacking or security threat signal. <\/p>\n
NATO’s air policing mission over Bulgaria responded first. Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense said a MiG-29 fighter intercepted the passenger jet shortly after it crossed the country’s northern border along the Danube River, News.Az<\/a> reports, citing Polskie Radio.<\/a><\/p>\n T\u00fcrkiye\u00a0also dispatched two F-16 fighters to escort the aircraft as it continued its route, BNT reported, citing unofficial sources.<\/p>\n According to the broadcaster, the plane triggered the alert signal twice \u2014 once before entering Bulgarian airspace and again after leaving Turkish airspace. The aircraft eventually turned back near Cyprus<\/a> and landed in Burgas, Bulgaria, where it was again accompanied by Bulgarian fighter jets as it re-entered the country’s airspace.<\/p>\n Israeli media had earlier reported that two Israeli fighter jets were also scrambled after the pilot sent a false hijacking alert.<\/p>\n LOT spokesman Krzysztof Moczulski told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that the incident was caused by an incorrectly configured transponder, which transmitted a threat code. The pilot later confirmed to air traffic control that the alarm was false.<\/p>\n “It was likely human error, but this will be investigated”, Moczulski said, adding that such incidents are “an absolutely exceptional occurrence” that practically never happen. He said the event would be reported to the relevant authorities in line with standard procedures.<\/p>\n After landing in Burgas, a crisis-response alert was declared and the aircraft was moved away from critical infrastructure while emergency services carried out standard checks, BNT reported. The broadcaster said none of the passengers or crew members were harmed.<\/p>\n