Two Israeli Air Force fighter jets scrambled over the Mediterranean Sea today to intercept a Tel Aviv-bound passenger plane after communications abruptly went silent, triggering a major security scare.
WARSAW — LOT Polish Airlines flight 155, operated by the Bulgarian charter company Electra Airways, departed Warsaw Chopin Airport at 11:15 CEST. Roughly three hours into the flight, air traffic controllers completely lost contact with the aircraft.
Mid-Air Uncertainty Over Cyprus
With voice communication severed, the Airbus A320 began circling at an altitude of 35,000 feet just off the coast of Cyprus.
Because the silent aircraft was heavily delayed and directly on a flight path toward Israeli airspace, military protocols were automatically triggered. The Israeli Air Force immediately deployed two fighter jets to intercept and visually inspect the airliner over the Mediterranean.
Communication Restored, Flight Diverted
The high-stakes situation was resolved when the flight crew successfully restored communication with air traffic control. The pilots reported that the radio silence was caused by a sudden technical malfunction rather than a security threat.
Following the incident, the aircraft abandoned its approach to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The flight safely diverted to Burgas, Bulgaria, where it landed without further incident.
Aviation authorities are launching an investigation into the communication failure to determine why the aircraft’s systems malfunctioned mid-flight.
