MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

EasyJet passengers SHOCKED as fighter jets intercept their flight to escort them to Menorca

An F18 warplane was seen in dramatic pictures flying close to the Airbus A319 as holidaymakers watched on in disbelief

An EasyJet commercial plane flying from Gatwick to Menorca was reportedly escorted by Spanish fighter planes, leaving passengers aboard stunned. An F18 warplane can be seen in the dramatic pictures taken by passengers as it flew close to the Airbus A319 as holidaymakers watched on in disbelief.

The fighter jet was also seen in video footage shared on social media, flying next to the passenger jet's signature orange liveried wing. The video showed the fighter jet tipping its wings at the EasyJet plane, in a universal symbol understood to mean "follow me." The flight EZY8303 was subsequently escorted by the fighter jets before it touched down on the Spanish island of Menorca.

RELATED ARTICLES

EasyJet forced to cancel flight after raucous stag party "treated the plane like a nightclub"

'Top Gun: Maverick': From Su-57 to F/A-18 Super Hornet, here are all fighter jets appearing in sequel

According to The Sun, the plane landed around half an hour late and the aircraft was held on the ground at the airport for nearly four hours. The incident was confirmed by EasyJet in a statement. "EasyJet can confirm flight EZY8303 from London Gatwick to Menorca was escorted by military aircraft while landing in Menorca and delayed disembarking due to precautionary security checks," a spokesperson for the airline said in a statement. "The passengers have since disembarked. The safety and security of its passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority and we would like to thank passengers for their understanding."

It's worth noting that F18s are some of the most recognizable aircraft in the world, especially after featuring in the blockbuster film 'Top Gun'. The jets are known to be used by the US Marine Corps, the Spanish Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Finnish Air Force, and several others. The fighter planes are crewed by one pilot and are capable of reaching supersonic speeds of up to 1,190mph and flying at 40,000ft. They are also loaded with weapons, armed with a Vulcan 6-barrel cannon while being capable of carrying air-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and a payload of bombs, per the newspaper.

It's also worth noting that fighter jets are required to follow strict guidelines while intercepting civilian or commercial aircraft, with rules stating that two jets must approach one plane. Most intercepts take place due to a loss of communication with an aircraft, especially if ground control cannot communicate with the pilots despite several attempts. Intercepts could also happen if there is an actual or perceived threat reported on board the aircraft, such as bomb threats, suspicious objects, or threats by passengers towards the crew. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandates that fighter jets must only intercept civilian planes as a "last resort."

As mentioned, all such intercepts happen in pairs, with both military jets approaching the commercial aircraft from behind. One of the jets remains at the tail while the other pulls alongside and communicates with the civilian captain. The communication can be either via radio or signaling through the window if the radios are not working. The captain must recognize a wing-tip maneuver as a sign that the flight has been intercepted and should follow the jets to the ground. The planes usually land at the closest airfield available, which could be different from the scheduled port of arrival depending on the route where the plane was intercepted.