A 767 aircraft of Ethiopian Airlines flying from Addis Ababa to Fiumicino was diverted to Geneva; it was intercepted and escorted to the handover point with the French Air Defense. The complex operation took place under the direction of the Air Operations Command (COA) of the Air Force, located in Poggio Renatico (FE), which activated the aircraft search and rescue device and informed the national security authorities.
During its passage through national airspace, the Ethiopian flight never showed hostile intentions.
In technical jargon, “scramble” is the immediate takeoff of interceptors that, under the guidance of air defense controllers, head towards an aircraft to ascertain its identity and verify its intentions, in the safeguarding of national security and the air communication lines in a segment of vital importance for civil and commercial air transport in the Mediterranean basin. The Chief of Staff of the Defense, Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli, expressed great satisfaction with the effectiveness and promptness demonstrated by the Air Defense of the Air Force, which, in the early hours of this morning, with two Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from the 36th Squadron of Gioia del Colle (BA), intercepted and escorted a Boeing 767 of Ethiopian Airlines diverted to Geneva by its co-pilot, demonstrating the efficiency of the device in question. Also Defense Minister Mario Mauro expressed his “
pleasure with the important and delicate operation”of the Air Force, which saw two Eurofighter fighter jets from the 36th Stormo intercept a hijacked aircraft with civilian passengers on board, many of whom were Italian.”.
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The Air Force operates every day, in coordination with other civilian and military organizations, national and international, to ensure the safeguarding of national security and air communication lines.”– recalled Minister Mauro – “
in a segment of vital importance, such as that of the Mediterranean basin, for civil and commercial air transport“.
In the past, the interceptors of the Air Force have taken off not only to intercept a hijacked aircraft, but also for aircraft that did not meet predetermined requirements, did not have the intended permits to fly over Italian airspace, or deviated from the predetermined route without valid reasons.
The Air Force ensures the surveillance of the national airspace 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, with an integrated defense system composed of radar sensors, a command and control center, and operational units of the air defense of Grosseto, Gioia del Colle, and Trapani.
The interceptors of the Air Force also operate under NATO Command and Control, in close synergy with the Air Defense of the neighboring countries.
The Air Force’s Air Defense Divisions are equipped with Eurofighter interceptors and are deployed throughout the national territory: the 4th Squadron in Grosseto (GR); the 36th Squadron in Gioia del Colle (BA), as well as, to support and as a back-up for the 4th and 36th Squadrons, the 37th Squadron in Trapani.
Rai 1 Tg1, 20:00 on 17.02.2014 Canale 5 Tg5, 20:00 on 17.02.2014 RAI News, 21:00 on 17.02.2014 Rai 3 Tgr Puglia at 19:30 on 17.02.2014 Canale Italia Tg at 20:00 on 17.02.2014 Rai 1 Unomattina, 8:30 AM on 19.02.2014 Rai Isoradio of 21.02.2014 “2 MINUTES FOR ARMED FORCES” Press Review
