A LOT Polish Airlines flight bound for Tel Aviv triggered fighter jet scrambles across three national air defense systems on June 30, 2026, after its transponder broadcast the international hijacking code, an alert that the airline and government authorities later blamed on a malfunction or crew error rather than a genuine threat.
Flight LO155, operated by Bulgaria’s Electra Airways on behalf of LOT, was flying the Airbus A320-231 registration LZ-EAB from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) with about 180 passengers on board when it transmitted squawk 7500, the code that signals unlawful interference or hijacking.
A chain of interceptions
The signal set off a rapid sequence of military responses along one of the region’s most closely monitored corridors.
Bulgaria’s defense ministry, cited by public broadcaster BNT, said the alert activated NATO’s air policing mission over the country and that a Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 was scrambled to intercept the aircraft shortly after it crossed the northern border over the Danube.
Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Ministry said two Turkish Air Force F-16s met the A320 as it entered Turkish airspace and stayed with it until it left, applying international aviation security procedures even though the crew had reported no emergency on board.
The Israeli Air Force also scrambled a pair of fighter jets. The Israel Defense Forces said the aircraft was launched over a loss of contact with the airplane and that the situation ended once communication was restored, with no security concern. Near Cyprus, the flight was refused clearance to land in Israel and turned back.
Diverted to Burgas
In a statement, LOT said the crew had reported an emergency that was “withdrawn during subsequent contact with air traffic control”.
Due to crew working time restrictions, the decision was made to divert the aircraft to Electra Airways’ home airport in Burgas,” the airline said.
Bulgarian MiG-29 jets escorted the aircraft, which landed safely at 17:12 local time, was parked away from the main terminal, and was searched by local authorities, who found no hazardous materials and no threat. None of those on board were hurt.
Accounts of the cause diverge. Bulgaria’s transport ministry pointed to “a technical failure of the aircraft’s transponder” that generated the false 7500 code, while LOT and Turkish authorities indicated the pilot had entered the wrong code, suggesting human error.
False squawk 7500 alerts are rare but not unprecedented. In June 2022, a Singapore Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Singapore reportedly transmitted the hijacking code by mistake following a technical glitch.