Croatian MiGs scrambled on NATO command and intercepted Italian Boeing 767 over Dalmatia

Two MiG-21 aircraft of the Croatian Air Force on Sunday, on the orders of the competent NATO command, intercepted and identified an Italian passenger plane that entered Croatian airspace, and the Italian air traffic control could not establish radio contact with it, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia announced, reports Patria.

Two MiG-21 aircraft of the Croatian Air Force's combat readiness pair within the NATO integrated air defense system intercepted a civilian aircraft that entered Croatian airspace on October 30 between 11 AM and 12 PM. It was a Boeing 767 passenger plane of the Italian airline Thomson Airways, flying from Manchester to Heraklion, with which Italian air traffic control could not establish radio contact.

On the orders of the competent NATO command located in Torrejon, Spain (Combined Air Operations Centre - CAOC), the combat MiG-21 aircraft took off to intercept and identify the aircraft as quickly as possible. The ALPHA SCRAMBLE interception mission took place at an altitude of 12,500 meters over northern Dalmatia.

Shortly thereafter, radio contact was established with the civilian aircraft, which, after responding, continued its flight towards Greece, and the combat readiness pair returned to its home unit at Zagreb-Pleso Airport. The interception was carried out in accordance with all NATO rules and procedures for such an operation.

The successful execution of this task demonstrated the rapid transfer of data and commands between the operational centers of NATO member countries and the quick reaction of the combat readiness pair from the Croatian Air Force and Air Defense system, and once again confirmed the declared capability of the Croatian airspace surveillance and protection system, as well as all the advantages of participating in the integrated NATO air defense system, according to the statement, writes Jutarnji.hr.