The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Fighter jets scrambled as Aer Lingus flight diverted to military base
Two French fighter jets were scrambled and Aer Lingus flight EI402 was escorted to Évreux military base in France after the pilots initially sought to land at a commercial airport instead, following a hoax bomb threat on board
Two Aer Lingus pilots were questioned in France after an attempted diversion to a commercial airport led to two fighter jets being scrambled to Évreux base. The incident involved flight EI402, bound for Rome, which was diverted by authorities to the military airfield following a bomb hoax that affected several aircraft in the area.
French prosecutors say the pilots initially refused to land at Évreux and preferred to proceed to a civilian airport, prompting the decision to dispatch fighter jets to compel the landing. The jets escorted EI402 to Évreux, where the aircraft was guided to land under military supervision.
Passengers on the Rome-bound flight reported witnessing the fighter aircraft hovering near the windows, describing the experience as terrifying. The event occurred in the context of multiple bomb hoaxes targeting aircraft in the days leading up to the incident.
An official investigation was opened, with both the pilot and co-pilot questioned by authorities. Rémi Coutin, the public prosecutor for Évreux, indicated that the pilots were allowed to leave France after their interviews and that the inquiry remains ongoing.
The airline issued a statement praising the conduct of the captain and crew, emphasizing their professionalism and safety focus during the security situation. Representing airline pilots, IALPA described the questioning as standard procedure and reaffirmed support for the pilots, noting their adherence to safety responsibilities under applicable laws.