Two Eurofighter F2000 fighters of the Italian Air Force, on alert throughout the country, flew today at the local 11.15 from the Gioia del Colle airbase, home of the 36 ° Stormo Caccia, to verify the possible threat posed by the aircraft civilian A320 of Afriqiyah Airways hijacked in flight and landed in Malta.
Once in the area concerned, the fighters have monitored the national border area in defense of the air space. To extend the autonomy of the two aircraft, a KC767 was sent from the Pratica di Mare airport which carried out the refueling in flight.
At the end of the mission, the two Eurofighters landed at Trapani airport and later returned to base.
The immediate take-off order - in technical jargon "scramble" - was given by the AOC (Air Operation Center) of the Air Operations Command (COA) of Poggio Renatico, body responsible for national air defense, in coordination with NATO bodies appointed to oversee airspace in southern Europe.
