NATO Air Policing: Italian fighters intercept an aircraft in the skies over Montenegro

(To air Force)
09/04/19

Two Eurofighter fighters from the 36 ° Stormo of the Italian Air Force, in NATO alarm service, took to the air this morning from the Gioia del Colle air base (BA) to intercept an aircraft of the German airline TUI Fly flying over the skies of Montenegro, headed to Hurghada (Egypt), which had lost radio contact with air traffic control agencies (ATC).

The immediate take-off order - in technical "scramble" jargon - was given by the CAOC (Combined Air Operation Center) of Torrejon in Spain, a NATO body responsible for the area, in coordination with the Poggio Renatico Air Operations Command (COA) and the Armed Forces bodies appointed to oversee national and NATO airspace.

The "hunting guide" staff of Licola's 22 ° Radar Group provided the Eurofighter pilots in flight with the information needed to intercept the aircraft that was about to affect the airspace of Montenegro and Albania, countries of the Atlantic Alliance whose defense aerial is daily assured by Italy, with the operational assets of the Air Force, and by Greece.

Once in the area concerned, the two interceptor fighters identified the civil aircraft for the planned VId (Visual Identification) and once restored the radio communication returned to the base.