The Israeli military said on Tuesday that two Israeli fighter jets were dispatched toward a civilian aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea, after European officials confirmed that the pilot had accidentally transmitted a code indicating the plane was being hijacked.
Polish airline LOT said the flight, operated by Bulgarian carrier Electra Airways, was en route from Warsaw to Tel Aviv when "the crew reported an emergency."
Company spokesman Krzysztof Moczulski told AFP that "the report was cancelled during subsequent communications with air traffic control."
Bulgaria's Defence Ministry said a Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept and escort an Airbus A320 as it crossed Bulgarian airspace, after the aircraft transmitted a code indicating a possible unlawful interference on board, before it was rerouted.
The Israeli military said in a statement: "Two fighter jets from the Israeli Air Force were dispatched toward a civilian aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea, following a report of loss of contact with the plane."
It added that the incident was over and contact with the aircraft had been restored, noting that "there is no security concern."
The spokesman for Warsaw's Chopin Airport said: "No action is required on our part. We are monitoring the situation, and nothing indicates any external interference."