On Saturday evening two Belgian Air Force F16s scrambled from Kleine-Brogel Air Base for a civilian airline that had lost all contact with air traffic control. Once radio contact was re-established, around midnight, the F16s returned to base.
Several newspapers wrote that the civilian aircraft was a Ryanair Boeing 737-800. A search on FlightRadar24 revealed that the aircraft was registered EI-EBK and operated flight FR9525 from Lublin (LUZ) to London Stansted (STN).
Since January 2017, a new arrangement for NATO Air Policing has started for the airspace of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (BENELUX). The Belgian Air Component and the Royal Netherlands Air Force are taking four-month turns to ensure Quick Reaction Alert (Intercept) fighter jets are available 24/7/365 to be launched under NATO control.
NEWS @BeAirForce – Last night 2 #F16 on Quick reaction Alert took off from Kleine-Brogel Air Base for a civilian airliner that had lost all contact with air traffic control. Once radio contact was re-established, jets returned to homebase around midnight. Protecting your security pic.twitter.com/9CdhDmwvKg
— Belgian Air Force?? (@BeAirForce) February 11, 2018
De luchtgevechtsleiding van @aocsnm heeft zaterdagavond de QRA geactiveerd voor een civiel toestel waar geen communicatie mee mogelijk was. Toestellen zijn ter hoogte van Hoek van Holland door geluidsbarrière gegaan rond middernacht. Communicatie is voortijdig hersteld. https://t.co/3CVIGyvnUn
— Luchtmacht (@Kon_Luchtmacht) February 11, 2018
NEWS @BeAirForce – Last night 2 #F16 on Quick reaction Alert took off from Kleine-Brogel Air Base for a civilian airliner that had lost all contact with air traffic control. Once radio contact was re-established, jets returned to homebase around midnight. Protecting your security pic.twitter.com/9CdhDmwvKg
— Belgian Air Force?? (@BeAirForce) 11 février 2018
Featured image © David Van Bouwel