http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1611000/1611935.stm
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British holidaymakers have described their fear as a French fighter plane homed in on their jet at 30,000 feet (9,144 metres). The Mirage F1 fighter intercepted Go airline’s Boeing 737 as it flew over France en route to the UK from Malaga in Spain on Monday. Father-of-three Renny Dobbs, 47, from Margate, Kent, told the BBC the plane was so close he could see its missiles “quite plainly.” He said: “It was fascinating to start with. I glanced out the window and saw this Mirage, and was just amazed to see such a sight.
“But obviously shortly afterwards it became quite frightening.” The scare came after the Boeing lost radio contact with French air traffic control – prompting fears it may have been hijacked. Mr Dobbs said passengers were shocked as the Mirage suddenly appeared 100ft (30m) away from the Boeing’s left wingtip. He said the Mirage was so close he could see the pilot’s head moving, as if looking under the Boeing for signs of sabotage. Mr Dobbs said: “Your first thoughts are that you’re going to be shot down but then it looked more like the plane was escorting us rather than attacking us. “All the passengers were starting to get frightened but the captain soon came on the intercom to explain that the Mirage was just on a routine flight, and that calmed everybody down. “Everybody just sat back in their seats and looked at the plane.” The fighter accompanied the Boeing for about 10 minutes before radio contact was re-established, and it was called off. The holiday flight, carrying 126 passengers and five crew, landed on time in Stansted Airport in Essex, following the incident. A Go spokeswoman said the French military had been alerted to the Boeing because it had temporarily lost radio contact with French air traffic control as it transferred from Spanish to French airspace. She said: “French air traffic control contacted the French military who alerted a French airforce plane which was on exercise nearby. “The French plane accompanied the Go flight for approximately 10 minutes during which time radio contact was re-established with French air traffic control.
“At no point were passengers in any danger, and the flight arrived on schedule. “Go has investigated the incident and is satisfied all systems were functioning normally and the aircraft maintained its planned route and airspeed at all times. “Go has requested an explanation from French and Spanish air traffic controls as to why radio contact was temporarily lost.” Twelve Mirage 2000 interceptors, which are said to be ready to take off in two minutes, are currently on full alert at several bases across France. They are primed to intercept any aircraft suspected of being used in a suicidal attack such as those on 11 September in the US. France has set up air protection zones around major cities and “sensitive” sites such as dams and large industrial sites. Surface-to-air missiles are protecting two key sites in western France – a base for nuclear submarines and a nuclear waste reprocessing plant. On Thursday President Jaques Chirac also got a demonstration of the Mirage performance while on a flight. Two of the fighters surrounded his presidential plane, positioning themselves two metres from its wings to show how the military could chase down attackers.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1620000/images/_1621294_wingtiprex300.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1620000/images/_1621027_mirage54.jpg
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seams like some holiday makers got a scare – persoanly i would be pleased.
rabie :9
By: keltic - 13th November 2001 at 19:15
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
Fighter jets won´t get inside the caves where Bin Laden and his followers are.
By: Rabie - 13th November 2001 at 14:29
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
siiting back here today with the old northern alliance on a blitzkreig i thnink ground troops arent needed but everyone is entiltled to their own opinion.
rabie :9
By: keltic - 10th November 2001 at 21:27
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
What you set as an example don´t change my views about the point. In Europe there´s support. Everyone thinks something should be done and the US has the right to do something and hunt these guys down. However I am not sure, if what´s being done is the proper way to solve the situation or it´s simply fueling future problems. I would recommend a more subtle and effective way. The country is too destroyed for the bombs to be effective. Ground troops should be deployed and stop bombing campaign. It´s just an opinion folks.
By: Rabie - 6th November 2001 at 14:20
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
with french SAM batteries i don’t think so -maybe somewhere esle
in priciple i do agree with you
rabie :9
By: Arabella-Cox - 5th November 2001 at 22:43
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
Some people think the American are over reacting? Well, if a hijacker flew a A340 into a French Nuclear Power Plant. Maybe just maybe Europe would be supportive on the mission in Afghanistan!
By: keltic - 27th October 2001 at 16:00
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
Were they wise or the US admistration too clumpsy to prevent this?. I have my doubts. In any case I won´t use the words mentally retarded, it´s an insult to all poor people suffering from this mental illness. Just let´s call them terrorists it´s insulting enough. Sorry to be so strict about the point. We have that problems over here.
By: David J Burke - 27th October 2001 at 10:01
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
I don’t really have a problem with this – I am sure the Captain acted correctly and assured the passengers that it was a routine flight. I think in reality anyone who travels by air should accept that the will be increased security – full marks to the French Air Force.
By: David J Burke - 27th October 2001 at 09:59
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
Keltic – I wouldn’t call them mentally retarded – they had the ability to plan and carry out probably the most feared terrorist act ever. Do not underestimate the capabilities of these people.
By: KabirT - 27th October 2001 at 07:37
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
Well..of course that would be scary. People just relaxing on the flight, having a nice cool drink in there window seat looking at the view outside when suddenly a Mirage F1 springs up just 100ft away from the wingtip. Some flight eh:-)
By: Rabie - 26th October 2001 at 19:12
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
silly me i’ve just re read it and it was an Mirage F1 that did it but a squadron of mirage 2000s who are on alert.
doh !!!
rabie :9
By: Saab 2000 - 26th October 2001 at 18:55
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
Its great to know that surface to air missiles and no fly zones have been estalished by the french government,how affective they are is worrying though,just last week Greenpeace manged to fly 7 cessna’s through the no fly zones at Cap de las Hague (nucleur power plant near Cherbourg.Only 40 miles from GCI)which shows that it is extremely easy to get through those no fly zones.The nucleur plant has been on red alert ever since the french government identified it as a possible terrorist target.No doubt if an aircraft crashed into it,it would kill thousands and turn everywhere around including the south coast of the UK into a nucleur waste pit,which has gives us here in the Channel islands great concern for our safety.But still its good to know that we are being protected.
Regards Saab 2000
http://www.jerseyinsight.com/news/news-index.cfm?ID=3765
Also theres a link about the exclusion zones around cap de la Haague
By: keltic - 26th October 2001 at 18:49
RE: Mirage 2000 Scare
Ufff, I would be terrified, specially after hearing that the mentally retarded wanted to crash planes against several european cathedrals. One the shrine of St James (Santiago. Tradition says, that this saint was supposed to expell arabs from Spain) where I live. We are having intense debates about the possibility of having a jet in our local airport in case a plane gets away from its assigned corridor. I wouldn´t be amussed at all.
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October 26, 2001 at 6:22 pm
