Two passenger aircraft flying from Thailand to Israel fell victim to cyber hijacking by unidentified anti-social elements, as confirmed by Israel Radio Service Kan Reshet B and reported by The Jerusalem Post.
According to sources, two El Al flights en route from Phuket to Ben Gurion International Airport were temporarily diverted from their original course when hijackers gained control of the aircraft communication service for a brief period.
Fortunately, the pilots, in collaboration with international air traffic officials, swiftly regained control and safely reached their destination, albeit with a minor delay.
Given that the incident occurred in airspace controlled by the Houthis, an Iran-backed militant group, initial suspicions point towards a hacker group possibly operating from Somaliland.
In the realm of aviation technology, aircraft are equipped with two-way, and sometimes multi-mode, communication systems. Pilots have the ability to switch between communication channels if anomalies are detected, allowing them to confirm with air traffic controllers before proceeding to their designated destinations.
This hijacking event unfolded last week, and subsequent reports indicate a similar occurrence on a flight from Israel to Bangkok. However, the incident garnered less media attention, likely due to concerns about sparking panic among travelers and the potential impact on the aviation industry, which is still in the process of recovering from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
