NATO fighter jets intercept British Airways flight attributable to ‘terrorism’ fears
NATO fighter jets were scrambled to examine a BA aircraft after both pilots allegedly failed to respond to air traffic controllers, with the flight continuing safely and no sign of terrorism found
NATO fighter jets were scrambled to investigate a British Airways plane bound for London after both pilots reportedly failed to respond to air traffic control. The drama unfolded when the captain and first officer of flight BA899 allegedly didn’t answer calls for roughly half an hour on Saturday (October 17).
The Airbus A321, flying from Pafos in Cyprus to London Heathrow, was over Germany when the incident took place. Eurofighter Typhoons were dispatched by the German military to inspect the cockpit and verify there was no danger.
A source told the Sun: “You could hear the conversation between the British Airways pilots and a fighter jet pilot on the emergency frequency.
A passenger filmed the jet alongside the BA aircraft (Image: SWNS)
“The pilots wanted to avoid the passengers getting worried, and asked the fighter jets to stay behind the plane. But the order of the fighter jets was to inspect the cockpit so he had to fly parallel to the plane.
“The inspection was successful; no terrorism. The fighter jets stayed with the BA flight to the German border.”
British Airways has confirmed there is no evidence of any third-party interference with the journey, which lasted four hours and 20 minutes, reports the Express.
The flight, which was due to depart at 2.30pm local time on Saturday, eventually left Pafos International Airport at 3.41pm and landed in London at 6pm.
The British Airways flight was intercepted (stock)(Image: Getty)
Jan, a passenger on the flight, was sitting beside the window on the left hand side of the plane and described the moment she saw the jet.
Speaking to Talk to the Press, Jan said: “We were probably about three hours into the flight. I was in the window seat, sitting and reading. But I got that sense that there was something in my periphery.
“I turned and looked out the window and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. You don’t expect to see a typhoon jet just off the wing of the aircraft.
“I was a bit dazed, and I nudged the lady next to me. She looked out and then we were discussing it. Oher people on the left hand side of the plane had noticed it, and obviously we just reach for our phones these days.”
Jan said the jet flew alongside them for around 15 minutes before banking off to the left and leaving.
NATO jets from Germany were deployed (file)(Image: Getty)
The passenger added: “The captain came on the radio and said that he understood there had been some excitement, but everything was okay, and there wasn’t a problem with the aircraft.
“He didn’t even know why it was there. I’m not sure whether that’s reassuring or not.”
Jan said everyone remained calm, with no one visibly panicking. She added: “The air hostess said she hadn’t seen anything like it in her 26 years on the job. I felt quite privileged then.”
A spokesperson for British Airways said: “All of the procedures in place for situations like this were followed.
“Communication with air traffic control was re-established and the flight continued safely and as planned. We’re looking into the circumstances to understand what happened.”
In July, RAF fighter jets were scrambled to escort a Qatar Airways flight bound for Manchester Airport after the aircraft raised alarm bells upon entering UK airspace.
The RAF confirmed the plane was “causing concern to civil authorities”, triggering the “RAF Quick Reaction Alert”.
The military jets were launched after ground controllers lost radio communication with the long-haul flight as it made its approach. Greater Manchester Police confirmed the aircraft landed safely at Manchester Airport.
The incident was later determined to be a false alarm, with police disclosing that a 14-year-old boy from the Bolton area, who was not aboard the aircraft, was assisting officers with their enquiries.
