FIGHTER JETS SCRAMBLED TO BLOCK RYANAIR FLIGHT
FIGHTER jets from two countries were scrambled to intercept a Ryanair plane after traffic controllers lost communications with it.
The flight from Lublin in Poland to Stansted Airport in England suffered a radio communications failure over The Netherlands on Saturday night.
The Boeing 737-800 jet was flying at 36,000ft as it entered Dutch airspace however controllers at Maasstricht were unable to make contact with it.
It’s understood the aircraft was visible on radar at all times during the incident.
As result of the loss of radio contact and fearing a possible security issue on board two Belgian Air Force F-16 fighter jets were dispatched to intercept the plane. It’s understood that at the time they were operating patrols in the airspace on behalf of Belgian and Dutch governments.
At the same time, an RAF Typhoon fighter jet were also scrambled from a UK air base so it could intercept the plane when it entered British airspace.
An aircraft security expert said: “It is a standard procedure. If an aircraft loses its radios it would use its satellite phone.
“Ryanair may not have had that equipment. In recent years security has been tightened up and now any aircraft that is unresponsive for 10 minutes or more gets reported.
“If it happens in Irish airspace and the aircraft are heading towards the UK it is reported to the British as they have two a i r f o r c e bases on alert at all times.
“T h e jets would pull up along- side the aircraft and communicate with the
pilots through manoeuvres and hand signals. The explanation can be as simple as a pilot turning down a frequency momentarily and not turning it up in time.”
When Belgian jets intercepted the flight near Rotterdam radio contact was quickly re-established and the crew confirmed there was no security issue. The fighter aircraft were stood down while the Ryanair flight continued to Stansted for a safe landing.
It’s understood there had been no contact for over 30 minutes.
Ryanair was asked four questions in relation to the matter but would only say: “This flight from Lublin landed normally at Stansted airport.”