Dutch F-16s escorted a Northwest Airlines flight bound for India back to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport today, and authorities detained several passengers for questioning.
The pilot requested permission to return as the aircraft was flying over Germany shortly after leaving Amsterdam, and asked for a military escort, said spokeswoman Pamela Kuypers.
Customs police were investigating the security alert, and airport authorities had no further information on what caused the alarm, she said.
The Dutch National Terrorism Co-ordinator’s Office was informed, but said there was no cause to raise the nation’s terror threat level, said spokeswoman Judith Sluiter.
“It is the same as it was before – light threat,” said Sluiter.
I've always wondered just what we expect the fighter jets to do in case there's a terrorist-related problem aboard the airliner. They can't directly influence activity aboard the airliner. All a fighter pilot can do is report an airliner's altitude and heading, but military radars can do that just as well. Of course, the fighter's missiles can destroy and airliner and since 9/11 I can't imagine any national leader failing to give that order if the choice was between losing the lives aboard the airliner or multiples more lives on the ground.
Although the extremity of a shootdown must be held in mind when the fighter jets are called out, I'm guessing that what the Northwest pilot wanted to do most was signal potential terrorists aboard that their presence was blown. When the suspect passengers looked out the windows and saw F-16s flying alongside, they had to know the gig was up.
Of course, if terrorists intend to blow up an airliner rather than fly it into a ground target, fighter jets can't do anything about it. It is futile to threaten killing those who are already determined to die.
Radar can track the aircraft provided it is up and running. Military radars do not operate 24/7. Secondly, the fighters can get a look at what is going on inside the plane - specifically the cockpit. If there's more than the three crew in there, or if they're not wearing the right uniform, that's good intel. Same thing if all the passengers are moved to the rear of the plane, or all the window shades are closed.
One perversely positive effect of 9/11 is that I don't think we're going to see much in the way of plane hijackings anymore, regardless of the hijackers' intentions once they're in control. The passengers will assume that they have nothing to lose -- their only chance to live is by fighting back.
Another effect the fighter escort might have is to give the passengers a heads-up that something is wrong. I know if I looked out the little window and saw a fighter jet alongside, I'd start paying very close attention to my fellow passengers.
I know if I looked out the little window and saw a fighter jet alongside, I'd start paying very close attention to my fellow passengers.
With the recent Brit passengers' refusal to board until the two "Asian" looking gentlemen were escorted off, it would appear that many people (myself included) have decided that the time to be paying attention is BEFORE the plane is actually airborne.
I predict that we'll be seeing more and more of these unilaterial mutinies on the part of people fed up with being inconvenienced (to the point of death) to save the little hurted feelings of a bunch of individuals who are adherents of a religion that is demonstrably NOT one of peace.
Here's a tip for men of Middle eastern descent. In light of all the false alarms and heightened security, do us all a favor and stop acting hinky on airplanes!
Sit up, face forward and don't do anything more active than reading a book.
As far as seeing the F16's flying alongside: the pilots were told to stay 5 miles away from the plane. Any chance passengers did notice them?
(This is based on Dutch media reports)