Passenger Plane Incident near Burgas
A passenger plane en route to Tel Aviv experienced dramatic hours following a technical malfunction. The aircraft was forced to divert from its route after its transponder sent a false signal regarding unlawful interference on board.
Chronology of Events
- 17:15: The plane made an emergency landing at Burgas Airport following the signal.
- Escort: Throughout the entire process, upon entering and exiting Bulgarian airspace, the aircraft was escorted by MiG-29 fighter jets from the 3rd Air Base.
- Turkish Interceptors: While passing through Turkey, two F-16 fighter jets of the Turkish Air Force performed a standard interception procedure to secure the aircraft's route.
It is important to note that after an inspection by the competent authorities, it was confirmed that there was no real threat to the passengers and crew on board.
After a seven-hour stay at the Burgas airfield, the plane took off at midnight and was expected to reach its final destination, Tel Aviv, around 01:15. The decision to divert to Bulgaria was made at the request of the carrier after the ambiguities surrounding the signal were resolved.