Warwick Hunt
15th Oct 2001, 22:58
Ananova - Fighter jets intercept charter plane near Vienna
Fighter jets intercept charter plane near Vienna
Two Austrian fighter jets have intercepted a charter flight of holidaymakers travelling from Edinburgh to Turkey. It is believed the airliner heading to Bodrum failed to identify itself properly.
Two fighters scrambled from a routine training manoeuvre. They stood down after radio exchanges with the Turkish jet's pilots. The Austrian Air force has been on alert since the September 11 atrocities
in the US. A spokeswoman for Edinburgh Airport confirmed the Onur flight had left at lunchtime with 169 passengers on board.
The planes acting on an emergency Code Red command broke the sound barrier as they sped over Vienna. They intercepted the plane south west of Vienna before it reached an enormous chemical works on the outskirts of the city. The Turkish airlines pilot called the Austrian Air Traffic control when he spotted the two jets heading towards him at high speed. The military jets were alongside
the charter machine within two minutes of getting the Code Red call.
An Austrian Ministry of Defence spokesman told Ananova: "There was no connection with the radio of the civilian air control, they gave information to the military control centre and they put out an order for the two fighter jets to intercept the flight. "When the jets showed up next to the Turkish airplane, suddenly they answered the radio calls and it was possible for them to exchange information and the plane was allowed to continue on its way."
The Turkish charter firm Onur has refused to comment on the incident.
Story filed: 17:16 Monday 15th October 2001
Fighter jets intercept charter plane near Vienna
Two Austrian fighter jets have intercepted a charter flight of holidaymakers travelling from Edinburgh to Turkey. It is believed the airliner heading to Bodrum failed to identify itself properly.
Two fighters scrambled from a routine training manoeuvre. They stood down after radio exchanges with the Turkish jet's pilots. The Austrian Air force has been on alert since the September 11 atrocities
in the US. A spokeswoman for Edinburgh Airport confirmed the Onur flight had left at lunchtime with 169 passengers on board.
The planes acting on an emergency Code Red command broke the sound barrier as they sped over Vienna. They intercepted the plane south west of Vienna before it reached an enormous chemical works on the outskirts of the city. The Turkish airlines pilot called the Austrian Air Traffic control when he spotted the two jets heading towards him at high speed. The military jets were alongside
the charter machine within two minutes of getting the Code Red call.
An Austrian Ministry of Defence spokesman told Ananova: "There was no connection with the radio of the civilian air control, they gave information to the military control centre and they put out an order for the two fighter jets to intercept the flight. "When the jets showed up next to the Turkish airplane, suddenly they answered the radio calls and it was possible for them to exchange information and the plane was allowed to continue on its way."
The Turkish charter firm Onur has refused to comment on the incident.
Story filed: 17:16 Monday 15th October 2001