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RAF fighter jets scrambled to intercept flight from Bucharest and escort plane to Birmingham RAF fighter jets scrambled to intercept flight from Bucharest and escort plane to Birmingham
(35 minutes later)
RAF jets have been scrambled to intercept a flight from Romania and escort it to Birmingham. RAF jets have been scrambled to intercept a flight from Romania after it lost communications.
The aircraft took off from Bucharest at around 1.30am and landed safely at 7.30am, according to the radar tracking service Airlive. The aircraft took off from Bucharest at around 1.30am and landed safely in Birmingham at 7.30am, according to the radar tracking service Airlive.
Belgian F-16 fighter jets were also scrambled as the plane flew over the North Sea.Belgian F-16 fighter jets were also scrambled as the plane flew over the North Sea.
Witnesses photographed the plane being closely tracked by what appeared to be an RAF Typhoon as it descended over Milton Keynes. Witnesses photographed an RAF Typhoon and Voyager refuelling aircraft over Milton Keynes during the operation.
The Saab 340 aircraft, which came into service in 1987, is operated by Hungarian cargo airline Fleet Air International.The Saab 340 aircraft, which came into service in 1987, is operated by Hungarian cargo airline Fleet Air International.
In recent days it has made stops in Brno, the Czech Republic, and Cluj-Napoca in Romania.In recent days it has made stops in Brno, the Czech Republic, and Cluj-Napoca in Romania.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence could not immediately confirm the reason for the interception. An spokesperson for the RAF said the aircraft was safely escorted to Birmingham International Airport.
“The RAF can confirm that Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, were launched this morning by Quick Reaction Alert mission to intercept a civilian aircraft that had lost communications,” he added.
The Quick Reaction Alert system sees the RAF deploy planes within minutes to intercept unidentified aircraft, which may have lost communication with air traffic control, have no flight plan or fail to transmit a required surveillance radar code.
Jets stationed at RAF Coningsby, RAF Lossiemouth and in the Falkland Islands are kept in readiness around the clock for the missions, controlled by "air battlespace controllers" at RAF Boulmer and RAF Scampton.
Several passenger planes have been intercepted as a precaution in recent months, with fighter jets also scrambled to track Russian military planes nearing British airspace.