A routine passenger flight turned into a major security incident after an Israeli Arkia Airbus A321 reportedly stopped responding to Hungarian air traffic controllers. The loss of communication triggered NATO’s highest air-defense alert in Hungary, prompting the scramble of two JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets. Pilots later re-established contact with the aircraft, which continued safely to its destination. The incident unfolded amid heightened tensions involving Israel, Iran and Hezbollah, adding to regional anxiety. Why did NATO react so quickly, and what exactly happened aboard the Israeli aircraft as it crossed European skies?
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