Budapest — Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said Saturday that Hungarian fighter jets intercepted an Israeli civilian aircraft after communication was lost during its passage through Hungarian airspace two days earlier. The plane, an Airbus flying from Tel Aviv to Prague, failed to respond to calls from Hungarian civil air traffic controllers, prompting NATO to activate standard air policing procedures.

Hungarian Air Force jets were scrambled to visually identify the aircraft and establish contact with its crew. Shortly afterward, the Israeli crew restored radio communication with ground controllers. In line with NATO protocols, the Hungarian fighters escorted the plane until it exited Hungarian airspace toward Austria, where it continued its scheduled flight.