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German fighter jets intercept British Airways plane after loss of radio contact
Two German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a British Airways Airbus A321neo on Saturday after air traffic controllers lost radio contact with the pilots.
The incident occurred during flight BA899, traveling from Paphos, Cyprus, to London Heathrow. While the aircraft was cruising at approximately 34,000 feet and approaching German airspace, controllers in Austria were unable to establish communication.
In response, the Bundeswehr dispatched two Eurofighters from Neuburg an der Donau at supersonic speeds to perform a visual inspection of the cockpit. Following the interception, the pilots successfully re-established contact with air traffic control, and the aircraft continued its flight to London. It remains unclear whether the loss of contact was due to a technical fault or a procedural error.
Entities
British Airways · Bundeswehr · Eurofighter Typhoon · German Air Force