The pilot of a Bulgarian Electra Airlines flight from Warsaw to Tel Aviv accidentally pressed a hijack alert button in the cockpit, according to Israeli media. Though the pilot immediately reported the error, Israeli authorities scrambled fighter jets and diverted the aircraft to Cyprus as a precaution, with 180 passengers on board. The incident remains ongoing as the plane is still in the air.
Just after 16:00 Jerusalem, the pilot of a Bulgarian Electra Airlines flight from Warsaw to Tel Aviv accidentally triggered a hijack alert button in the cockpit, prompting Israeli Air Force fighter jets to scramble and the aircraft to be diverted to Cyprus. At 16:02, initial reports indicated the pilot immediately canceled the alert and notified air traffic control, but Israeli authorities maintained a heightened posture. By 16:10-11, the carrier was identified as Electra Airlines, and Israeli media confirmed the jets were scrambled as a precaution. The plane, with 180 passengers aboard, remains en route to Cyprus, and its landing time is not yet reported.
The first alert was published at 16:02 Jerusalem, when multiple outlets reported the diversion and scramble with few details — no airline, flight number, or cause. Within minutes, at 16:02, versions including the fact that the pilot triggered then canceled the alarm appeared. At 16:10, The Zioneer reported the accidental activation and immediate cancellation, and at 16:11, the airline name and continued airborne status were added. The timeline shows a rapid shift from an unconfirmed security incident to a widely confirmed error with no armed threat.
This incident follows a pattern of false alarms in the region. As The Zioneer reported on Sat Jun 13, 2026, a Hungarian airliner lost contact over Hungary, triggering a NATO jet escort. The current incident, though accidental, triggered a similar military response because of standard protocol for hijack alerts over Israeli airspace.
It remains unconfirmed whether the aircraft has landed in Cyprus, what condition the passengers are in, or if any formal investigation into the erroneous alert has been opened. Israeli authorities have not commented on potential changes to cockpit security procedures.
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