Overview
- A passenger aircraft en route from Warsaw to Tel Aviv transmitted transponder code 7500, the international signal for unlawful interference, prompting military responses.
- Israel scrambled two fighter jets over the Mediterranean and the Bulgarian air force launched a MiG-29 that intercepted and escorted the plane through Bulgarian airspace.
- LOT said the crew initially reported an emergency but later retracted the distress message in radio contact with air traffic control.
- Officials and Electra Airways reported the flight was diverted back to the carrier’s base in Burgas because of the transponder signal and because the crew were nearing their maximum duty time.
- Authorities described the episode as a precautionary response rather than an active security incident and noted that transponder code 7500 routinely triggers fighter interception as a safety procedure.