The Plane In Spain Was Almost Declared Fair Game

Warplanes from three different countries shot into the air one day last May, all converging on a single Air Europa Boeing 737. The crew, it seemed, wasn't answering the radio.

The flight carried 186 people from Bergran, Norway, to Mallorca, Spain on May first. That was the day after the European Union expanded from 15 to 25 nations.

Wednesday, a spokesman for the airline told the Madrid newspaper El Pais that two military aircraft from Germany, two from the Netherlands and two from France intercepted and escorted the 737 along different flight segments.

The pilot and copilot of the Air Europa flight said they remembered hearing controllers attempting to contact an aircraft, but had no idea it was their aircraft they were calling. Only when they looked out the window and saw the fighter escort did the cockpit crew realize something might be a tad amiss, according to the captain.

The incident ended peacefully when the French fighters were able to establish contact with the Air Europa crew and confirm there was nothing wrong on the commercial flight.

FMI: www.air-europa.com