Tel Aviv - Israel's Ben Gurion Airport declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon, and the air force scrambled fighter planes, after an incoming flight lost contact with the control tower, sparking fears it had been hijacked. The incoming plane, a Delta Airlines flight from New York with 105 passengers on board, managed to let the fighters know that technical problems had prevented it from contacting the Ben Gurion control tower, Israeli media reported.

The flight, escorted by two fighters, landed safely at a side runway and no injuries or damage were reported.

Incoming flights to Ben Gurion Airport, located east of Tel Aviv, must conduct a communications check at several points on the way to Israel, to confirm the airplane has not been hijacked.

Israel's transport ministry will investigate the incident next week.(dpa)