Are we talking about actual emergency conditions here? I often experience difficulties with trusting the public media when it comes to their documentation of aviation-related events. The media has often revealed that it lacks even basic knowledge about aviation, especially when it has to do with things such as emergency conditions and forced landings.
From what I’ve read so far, it sounds to me that the French aircraft had enough endurance to “land as soon as practical.” They were not required to “land as soon as possible” or perform an actual forced landing. These are two very different courses of action.
It bothers me that the media often tends to yell “emergency landing” and/or “forced landing” every time an aircraft has to divert and conduct a safe and controlled landing at the nearest aerodrome due to reasons which are considered to be unusual, but which do not necessarily entail an imminent danger to the aircraft, the personnel aboard it or other personnel, aircraft, buildings etc.
Now, I’m not in a position to judge this particular incident. I am in fact one of those who think that this whole thing is a bit smelly, having to do with allied aircraft and all, but I want to urge some of you to exercise a more cautious and critical attitude when reviewing reports from the public media, which is unfortunately rather ill-informed in too many cases. Just have a look at earlier reports related to military air operations…
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