Israeli Military Plane Hovered Over Malta Hours Before Gaza Flotilla Reported ‘Drone Attack’
An Israeli military aircraft was tracked hovering over Malta and circling Hurd’s Bank just hours before a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid vessel reported being hit by an alleged drone attack in international waters.
The aircraft, a C-130 Hercules, left Israel on Thursday and spent over three hours inside Malta’s flight information region (FIR) before returning to Israel, according to detailed flight-tracking data published by ADS-B Exchange and independently confirmed by Times of Malta and MaltaToday.
The plane reportedly flew as low as 5,000 feet, performing a series of manoeuvres above Hurd’s Bank, the same area where the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s ship Conscience issued a distress call following what it described as a drone strike early Friday morning.
No injuries were reported, but the vessel sustained damage and fire, prompting a response from both a tugboat and the Armed Forces of Malta.
At the time of the incident, prominent figures including Greta Thunberg and retired US Army Colonel Mary Ann Wright were in Malta, preparing to board the aid mission aimed at challenging the Gaza blockade through peaceful protest.
No direct link has been confirmed between the aircraft’s presence and the reported attack and it is believed that no formal notification was received from Israel regarding the military flight, something typically expected for foreign military aircraft entering Malta’s FIR (flight information region).
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