A LOT Polish Airlines flight bound for Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency diversion to Bulgaria on June 30 after an inadvertent hijack alert triggered a multinational security response involving fighter aircraft from Bulgaria and Israel.
Flight LO155, operated on behalf of LOT Polish Airlines by Bulgarian charter carrier Electra Airways using an Airbus A320, had departed Warsaw Chopin Airport at 11:35 a.m. local time for Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv when the aircraft unexpectedly transmitted transponder code 7500 the internationally recognised emergency squawk indicating unlawful interference or a hijacking.
The emergency code prompted air traffic controllers to initiate international aviation security procedures. According to Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport, the aircraft’s transponder experienced a technical malfunction that incorrectly transmitted the hijack signal, while LOT Polish Airlines said the emergency code had been mistakenly activated before subsequently being cancelled during further communication with air traffic control.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware showed the aircraft continued south over the Mediterranean Sea, where it circled near the coast of Cyprus before abandoning its approach to Israel and diverting toward Bulgaria.
The aircraft initially requested permission to land at Paphos International Airport in Cyprus. Bulgarian authorities said the request could not be accommodated because of heavy air traffic, prompting the crew to divert to Burgas Airport instead.
During the unfolding incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) scrambled two fighter jets after temporarily losing communication with the aircraft. The military later confirmed radio contact had been restored and stressed there was no indication of a genuine security threat.
Bulgarian authorities also responded immediately. A Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 intercepted and escorted the aircraft while it remained in Bulgarian airspace. After the aircraft crossed into Turkish-controlled airspace, the escort was transferred to two Turkish F-16 fighter jets, which accompanied the flight until it safely returned to Bulgaria.
The Airbus A320 landed safely at Burgas Airport at approximately 5:13–5:15 p.m. local time, where it was directed to an isolated parking position away from the terminal and other airport infrastructure in accordance with international aviation security procedures.
Business Insider reported that the aircraft was carrying around 180 passengers. Following the landing, passengers disembarked safely and underwent security screening by Bulgarian police before being escorted to a designated holding area while authorities conducted inspections of the aircraft.
LOT Polish Airlines later informed passengers that the diversion resulted from the unintentional activation of an onboard security alert, describing the occurrence as an exceptionally rare event.
“The diversion of your flight to Burgas was caused by the unintentional activation of an onboard security alert. In accordance with the applicable safety procedures, the aircraft was redirected to an alternate airport so that the situation could be fully clarified with the relevant authorities,” the airline said in a statement provided to passengers.
The carrier added that incidents of this nature are extremely rare and emphasised that the safety and security of passengers and crew remain its highest priority.
Bulgarian authorities subsequently confirmed that the aircraft had not been hijacked and that the emergency signal resulted from a technical failure involving the aircraft’s transponder, which falsely indicated unlawful interference.
No injuries were reported, and normal operations at Burgas Airport continued throughout the security response.
