Fighters Scrambled After Aircraft Failed To Identify Itself

A private aircraft carrying Former British prime minister Tony Blair was intercepted by Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighters last week after the flight crew failed to respond to air traffic control calls to identify itself.

The Jerusalem Post reported IAF fighters were following standard protocol designed to protect Israel's skies Wednesday when two aircraft were scrambled to meet and attempt to identify the jet when it crossed into Israeli airspace.  The fighters positioned above the jet and were able to establish contact with the flight crew and identify the aircraft and its prominent passenger.

An official reported the flight crew informed the fighters that Blair's aircraft apparently had a technical malfunction and could not hear the Israeli air traffic controller's calls.  Israel requires all planes entering its airspace to provide an identification code to guard against possible attacks.

Blair was enroute from the World Economic Forum summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to an investment conference in Bethlehem when the interception occurred.

According to Blair spokesman and passenger Matthew Doyle, the former prime minister and others aboard the aircraft were unaware of the situation until they were asked about the incident by media on in Bethlehem.

"Mr. Blair was one of a number of delegates on a flight back from the World Economic Forum in Sharm el-Sheikh," Doyle said Friday. "We were not aware of any problem at the time, and have not been notified of any issue with the flight."

When asked about further details of the incident, the Israeli army spokesman's office said "the air force does not comment on its operational activities."

FMI: www.iaf.org.il, www.tonyblairoffice.org