Israeli Air Force jets during 2017 Independence Day air show
Israeli Air Force jets during 2017 Independence Day air showFLASH90

Tel Aviv residents flew into a panic after mistaking Israeli Air Force jets that were practicing for next week's Independence Day flyover for an enemy aerial assault.

Israel's Air Force traditionally performs a flyover on Independence Day. In order to prepare for the complicated aerial maneuvers, pilots commonly practice flying sorties for weeks before.

However, the low-flying F-16 fighter jets that buzzed above Tel Aviv on Thursday morning sent residents into a panic. Scared residents mistakenly assumed that the planes were part of an enemy attack on Israel's biggest city amid rising tensions between Israel and Syria.

"The unmistakable sound of warplanes flying low over my home in Tel Aviv had scared me into taking cover in the hallway. I frantically called my friends and checked the news to see if we were under aerial attack," recalled Tel Aviv native Jason Kipp.

The IDF's Spokesperson's Unit quickly issued a statement informing the public that the airplanes were practicing for a flyover after the police's 100 emergency hotline was deluged by panicked callers.

"Ahead of the 70th Independence Day for the State of Israel, training exercises are being conducted in the skies over the country for the teams that are taking part in the flyover,” said the IDF.

This year's flyover will feature the F-35 'Adir', the F-15i 'Sufa', along with the 'Barak' F-16 and Lavi training plane. The planes will start in the northern city of Kiryat Shmona and fly to Eilat, passing over 49 Israeli cities.