Intercept doesn't mean a M2000 ACTUALLY went into left wing of a civil A/C. It means that the pilots had to actually start their engines (and start rolling to the RWY), at least the bell was ringing at the quick reaction alert building...
The fact is that even at supersonic speed, intercepting a civil A/C at F350 somewhere around the FIR boundary when your base is Cambrai would take around 10'. Add an extra 10' for the chain of command and time to start/taxi/T/O and you end up with something like 20'==> 150NM travelled by the cookie at M.75 average!!! This is why the intercept is started BEFORE FIR boundary sometimes...
It happens more and more and my ex colleagues in the Air Force told me: nowadays it happens at least once a day for Belgium only!!!
If you watch 121.5 -as you're supposed to do- then the M2000 will be stopped somewhere on the RWY just before T/O. This costs a lot of money/time wasted to the Air Forces of Europe. Several warnings have already been issued to the companies that in some cases the company==> the Captain could be charged....
Food for thought,
