UK holiday jet intercepted by French fighters

Airline Industry Information, Sept 1, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A Thomas Cook Boeing 757 on a flight from Majorca, Spain to the UK was escorted by French fighter jets after it lost contact with French air traffic control on 31 August 2004.

The aircraft lost contact with air traffic control over north-west France as it switched from Bordeaux to Brest air traffic control, prompting the authorities to launch fighter jets to check the aircraft was safe.

After contact was made and the aircraft's safety assured it was allowed to continue its flight to London's Gatwick Airport. A spokesperson for Thomas Cook said that the safety of the aircraft and the passengers was never compromised, reports The Telegraph.

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