An altitude of 7,5 km the information seems to have originated with the Dutch newspaper "de Telegraaf", never one to let the truth stand in the way of a good story.
unknown to Maastricht The flight was at all times known to the Maastricht system. The UIR boundary between Maastricht and Copenhagen is also the ORCAM boundary so a squawk change is made here. The aircraft was therefore not on the squawk expected by Air Defence. It is now a requirement that Air Defence be advised of all traffic in Radio Failure and the decision whether or not to intercept rests with them.
As stated above the crew sat fat, dumb and happy through some of Europe's busiest airspace, not even seeing the interceptors - whatever happened to airmanship?
There was discussion that the costs involved in similar cases would be charged to the responsible operator. I'd love to see the invoice:
To providing 2 F16 aircraft for 1 hour
Plus overtime @ 200% (weekend rate)
Plus VAT
Do this often enough and it will fill all shortages in the defence budget
The entity fomerly known as Lon More
Here before Pontius was a Pilot or Mortus was a Rigger