High security over Israeli airspace amid Malaysia hijack fears

Fears that the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 has been hijacked have led to an increase in security around Israel’s airspace, with officials concerned that terrorists could use the plane to target the Jewish state.

A report by Channel 2 confirmed that Israeli security and aviation officials had held a series of emergency, high-level meetings in recent days and have now said foreign airlines approaching Israeli airspace must identify themselves far earlier than normal.

There are also understood to be additional security measures being put in place, which will remain classified.

It comes as Malaysian investigators continue their head-scratching over the 8 March disappearance of the Boeing 777 with 239 people on board. Authorities in South East Asia are co-operating but new details reveal that the plane flew for several hours after it was last tracked, meaning that it could be far closer to Israel than previously thought.