BURGAS— A passenger aircraft operating a scheduled service from Warsaw to Tel Aviv triggered a major security response after a false hijack alert caused by a faulty transponder.
The incident led to an emergency landing at Burgas Airport (BOJ) on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on Tuesday.
The affected aircraft was an Airbus A320 operated by Electra Airways on behalf of LOT Polish Airlines (LO), flying from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV).
The situation escalated when the aircraft’s transponder mistakenly transmitted an unlawful-interference code, prompting immediate military and civil aviation action across multiple airspaces.
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Transponder Alert on Electra’s A320
The emergency unfolded when the Airbus A320’s transponder malfunctioned and generated a hijack-related squawk.
This triggered standard international aviation security protocols, including alerts to NATO and regional defence units.
Bulgarian authorities initially treated the situation as a potential unlawful interference case. The aircraft was ordered to divert and return to Bulgaria while maintaining close coordination with air traffic control agencies.
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Military Escort Response
As the aircraft entered Bulgarian airspace via the River Danube corridor, the Bulgarian Air Force scrambled a MiG-29 from Graf Ignatievo Air Base.
The fighter jet intercepted, identified, and escorted the Airbus across the country under active air policing procedures.
At the same time, Turkish Air Force F-16 fighters took over escort duties after the aircraft crossed into Turkish-controlled airspace. The coordinated operation ensured continuous monitoring until the situation could be verified.
NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre also monitored the alert, reinforcing the high-security response triggered by the false transponder signal, BTA reported:
Israeli security officials said there was no indication of a hijacking or terrorist act and attributed the alert to human error in the cockpit. The emergency transponder code is used to indicate a hijacking.
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Outcome of the Flight
Following verification that no security threat existed on board, Bulgarian authorities approved an emergency landing at Burgas Airport (BOJ) at 1715 hrs local time.
The aircraft was parked under strict safety protocols away from critical airport infrastructure.
Interior Ministry teams conducted thorough inspections before clearing the aircraft. Once confirmed safe, the Airbus A320 departed Bulgarian airspace via Turkey and continued its journey.
Authorities later confirmed that all passengers and crew remained unharmed, and airport operations at Burgas were not disrupted. Officials also noted that a similar false alarm had been reported earlier on a Warsaw–Tel Aviv route due to a cockpit activation error.
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