NATO Scrambles 2 Gripens to Escort Arkia Jet After Radio Contact Loss Over Hungary
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jun 13
NATO Scrambles 2 Gripens to Escort Arkia Jet After Radio Contact Loss Over Hungary
3 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jun 13
Summary
Two Hungarian JAS 39 Gripens intercepted and escorted an Arkia flight from Tel Aviv to Prague after the Airbus lost radio contact while crossing Hungarian airspace on Friday.
NATO raised its highest air-policing alert level, and the fighters established visual contact before communication with the crew was restored; initial assessments pointed to a temporary technical “frequency fluctuation.”
The aircraft was then escorted safely through Hungary, exited the country’s airspace around 8:10 p.m. local time, continued into Austria and reached Prague without further incident.
Arkia said the crew followed the approved flight plan and that passengers and crew were never in danger, while the airline and Hungarian authorities review why contact was lost.