AVIATION

17 February 2024: En route from Phuket to Israel

“Hostile elements” apparently attempted to take over the communication network of an El aircraft flying from Phuket to Ben-Gurion Airport on February 17. The group attempted to divert it from its destination, Israel’s national airline confirmed. The plane was able to continue to its destination safely. This was the second time an attempt like that occurred in the same week, a KAN Reshet B report stated. The incident took place where the Houthis are active, although sources in Somalia say a group there was responsible for the attempted attack. During the incident, instructions were given to the crew that differed from their preplanned route. The crew did not follow the instructions, switching to an alternative frequency and checking with ATC. The crew quickly realized they were being misled. A source said hostile elements contacted El Al pilots twice, once on the flight between Phuket and Ben-Gurion and once on a flight to Bangkok. A statement from El Al stressed that “the disturbances are not aimed at El Al planes and that this is not a security incident. The disruption did not affect the normal course of the flight thanks to the professionalism of the pilots who used the alternative means of communication and allowed the flight to continue on the planned route.”