Fighter jets raced to intercept a Wizz Air flight en route from London Luton to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport after a passenger’s phone hotspot appeared named “terrorist.” The scare unfolded on Sunday, triggering a swift security response.
Hotspot Sparks Alert
The hotspot originated from a mobile phone handed to a couple by their son before takeoff. Flight crew notified Israeli security officials, who promptly launched fighter jets to escort the aircraft. Passengers also received threatening messages during the flight.
Flight tracking data reveals the plane circled over the Mediterranean Sea prior to a safe landing at Ben Gurion Airport. No actual threat materialized.
Security Measures and Clearance
A spokesperson for the Israeli Airports Authority stated: “Due to suspicion of suspicious behavior on the plane, security forces acted according to the procedures for such a case. The incident ended. The plane landed and it was found that there was no actual incident.”
Upon touchdown, bomb-sniffing dogs inspected passengers and their luggage. Air traffic at Ben Gurion paused briefly before resuming normally.
Not the First Scare
This incident recalls a similar event nearly four years ago on an Anadolu Jet flight, where passengers’ phones displayed images and videos of crashing planes.

