A Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Tel Aviv triggered a major security response on 8 February 2026 after a passenger detected a Wi-Fi hotspot with a suspicious name on board.
Fearing a potential terrorist threat, the crew alerted ground control at Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled and escorted the aircraft over the Mediterranean before it landed safely. Police and security forces met the plane on arrival, and passengers experienced significant panic during the incident.
A full inspection of the aircraft, passengers and baggage found no threat. Authorities determined the alert was caused by a hoax: a minor had reportedly renamed a family Wi-Fi hotspot to include the word “terrorist” before departure.
Wizz Air confirmed that flight W9 5301 (Airvus A321neo G-WUKU) landed without injuries. However, the parents of the child involved could face liability for part of the costs related to the military deployment. The case remains under investigation.
This post was published on 18 February 2026 18:03
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