RAF Typhoon's Scrambled to AA Flight

Steyr

Info from Fox News

U.K. Fighter Jets Scrambled After Woman Rushes AA Flight Cockpit

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Two Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon jets were scrambled to assist an American Airlines passenger plane shortly before it landed at London's Heathrow airport on Tuesday after a woman attempted to gain access to the flight deck.

The woman, who has yet to be identified, was arrested by London police after the pilot on flight AA078 bound from Dallas-Fort Worth requested urgent assistance.

The plane landed safely at approximately 10:50 a.m. GMT and the arrest was made soon after, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said.

Police said the woman did not pose a terror threat to the Boeing 767-300, which had 161 passengers and 12 crew on board.

Richard Hedges, American Airlines director of corporate communications, Europe & Pacific, said: "American Airlines flight 78 from Dallas/Fort Worth to London Heathrow was met on arrival by police following reports of a disruptive passenger on board the aircraft.

"A female passenger had become distressed during the flight and reportedly attempted to gain access to the flight deck.

"The passenger was calmed by flight attendants but as a precaution a priority approach to London was requested and police were requested to meet the aircraft on arrival."

Steyr

Info from Various Sites says the flight was AAL78 767-300, passenger was reportedly emotionally disturbed and calmed by flight attendants. The captain, as a precaution, requested a priority approach to LHR as a result of the attempted flight deck entry and the lady's mental state but he advised that the situation was under control and no further assistance was required other than for police to meet the aircraft on arrival as is routine for any disruptive passenger.

The two RAF Typhoons broke off over Oxfordshire and returned to their Coningsby base.

Does the below say it basically happened in Irish Airspace??

http://avherald.com/h?article=4280c874&opt=0

Incident: American B763 over Atlantic on Mar 2nd 2010, unruly passenger creates suspicion of unlawful interference


By Simon Hradecky, created Tuesday, Mar 2nd 2010 14:04Z, last updated Tuesday, Mar 2nd 2010 14:05Z

An American Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N376AN performing flight AA-78 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) to London Heathrow,EN (UK) with 161 passengers and 12 crew, was enroute over the Atlantic having passed N54 W30 at FL330, when the crew reported an unruly passenger trying to gain access to the cockpit and requested law enforcement to be present for landing in Heathrow. The airplane descended to FL250 and flew across Ireland and the UK at that level accompanied by two Royal Air Force fighter jets and continued for a safe landing in Heathrow. The passenger was taken into custody by UK police.

American Airlines reported, that a female passenger became distressed during the flight and attempted to gain access to the cockpit. The passenger was calmed by cabin crew, the flight crew requested a priority landing as a precaution. The airplane was met by police upon arrival.

vulcan57

Yet again it highlights how inadequate the IAC are equiped for an air defence force. Thank god that we have friendly neighbors that are there to help in these situations. If the poor woman in this case had not been just distressed but someone with "alternative aims" then things could have been somewhat different.

pclancy

Haha I love the way they say scrambled to assist an American Airlines passenger plane like how exactly would they assist it if there was a terrorist on board? The only way a fighter is going to assit a passenger plane in that circumstance s to blow it out of the sky

Victor

pclancy wrote: »

Haha I love the way they say scrambled to assist an American Airlines passenger plane like how exactly would they assist it if there was a terrorist on board? The only way a fighter is going to assit a passenger plane in that circumstance s to blow it out of the sky

Or dissuade the would-be hi-jackers or assist the aircrew or in the event of casualties the surrogate aircrew in navigating to the appropriate airfield.

pclancy

Well that may be some of the "options" but in reality I think if it was heading straight for buckingham palace or No 10 there would be a sidewinder up its ass before very long.

Morpheus

And none of this was reported by Irish news agencies even though it would have entered Irish airspace long before UK airspace - typical, govt and headless department of defence hiding just how impotent we are in this type of situation.

Steyr

Morphéus wrote: »

And none of this was reported by Irish news.

Thats why im here posting News:pac:

Sterling Archer

Today two Irish Air corp PC9s were 'scrambled' to assist an American Airlines 767, the Garda Helicopter was also called to assist but the aircraft had exited Irish airspace before they could get near it... :rolleyes:

View Profile

was enroute over the Atlantic having passed N54 W30 at FL330

That puts it mid Atlantic.

I wonder at what stage the Typhoon's intercepted it.
Also curious to know if the threat onboard remained and the Captain decided to make an immediate landing at Shannon (the nearest airport), would the Typhoons have escorted it all the way into Shannon?! :eek:

muppet01

Shane_ef wrote: »

Today two Irish Air corp PC9s were 'scrambled' to assist an American Airlines 767, the Garda Helicopter was also called to assist but the aircraft had exited Irish airspace before they could get near it... :rolleyes:

If only we kept the Fougas.............:rolleyes:

high heels

Of corse they would of.. If US army plans can land at shannon the RAF could escort planes over Ireland..

vulcan57

View Profile wrote: »

That puts it mid Atlantic.

I wonder at what stage the Typhoon's intercepted it.
Also curious to know if the threat onboard remained and the Captain decided to make an immediate landing at Shannon (the nearest airport), would the Typhoons have escorted it all the way into Shannon?! :eek:

Why wouldn't they?

View Profile

Is it really their role to escort aircraft into Irish airports?

...not that we have anything up to the task.

Steyr

View Profile wrote: »

Is it really their role to escort aircraft into Irish airports?

If tasked to do so and approved by Relevant Govt Depts then yes they can do it.

They would escort to a point where a landing is possible without interferance from outside the cockpit on board the Aircraft of may just flank the Airliner.

Steyr

View Profile wrote: »

That puts it mid Atlantic.

I wonder at what stage the Typhoon's intercepted it.
Also curious to know if the threat onboard remained and the Captain decided to make an immediate landing at Shannon (the nearest airport), would the Typhoons have escorted it all the way into Shannon?! :eek:

Whats so :eek: about that? Also i cant see the lady gaining access to the cockpit, how the hell would she get past those doors installed after 9/11?

Steyr

Interestingly enough i believe the RAF's QRA Aircraft are very busy "escorting" aircraft which im sure we will never hear about as the passengers wouldnt even be told about their escorts nor would they see them, Austria's QRA Typhoons were scrambled 73 times in 2008, identifying aircraft that had entered Austrian national airspace without authorisation or lost communication with air traffic controllers.


The Austrian Air Force's QRA aim to be Airborne within 7min of a threat situation arising.