A Tarom Boeing 737-700 aircraft, registration YR-BGG performing flight RO-371 from Bucharest Otopeni (Romania) to Brussels (Belgium), was enroute at FL400 over Germany when the communication with ATC was lost following a hand off, avherald.com reports.
Two Eurofighters were dispatched to intercept the aircraft near Frankfurt/Main (Germany), the Eurofighters broke the sound barrier at about 09:04 (07:04Z) causing two bangs on the ground. Shortly after the Eurofighters reached the Boeing the Boeing crew finally reported on the emergency frequency that they hadn’t monitored prior to the arrival of the fighter aircraft, was told the correct frequency and established regular contact with ATC explaining they had selected a wrong frequency.
The Eurofighters returned to their base at Neuburg in Bavaria, the Boeing continued to their destination for a safe landing about 30 minutes later.
Tarom’s spokesman, Cristian Blana, has partially confirmed the development, saying that it was about a switch in communications between ATC and the aircraft, digi24.ro informs. He added that he knows nothing about the Eurofighters. “This is news with sensationalist potential,” he said.
file photo