Hungary scrambles fighter jets after Israeli passenger plane fails to contact ground control
The Times of Israel • • world
Key Points:
- Hungarian fighter jets were scrambled to intercept an Israeli Arkia passenger plane that failed to contact local air traffic control after entering Hungarian airspace, triggering NATO’s highest alert level.
- Two Gripen jets established visual contact with the Arkia Airbus A321, after which the plane's pilots radioed Hungarian ground control, allowing the flight to continue to Prague without incident.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar confirmed the effectiveness of Hungary’s airspace control and NATO’s integrated air defense system during the incident.
- Arkia Airlines stated the incident is under internal investigation and emphasized that the flight crew followed the approved flight plan, with no danger posed to passengers or crew.