Dutch F16s intercept private jet
Two F-16 fighter jets were ordered to intercept a small private jet after it was piloted over Utrecht province Tuesday evening. The military jets were scrambled when the Learjet failed to respond to air traffic control radio communications, the Defence ministry announced.
The F-16s intercepted the aircraft over the IJsselmeer, a lake separating Noord Holland from the provinces Friesland and Flevoland, at about 7:15 p.m.
"The aircraft was en route from Greece to Belfast, but had no radio contact with air traffic control," the Ministry of Defence said in a press release.
Once the fighter pilots made radio contact with the captain of the Learjet, they determined there was no threat to national security and returned to the Leeuwarden airbase.
The Learjet was allowed to continue on to its destination.
