Belgian quick reaction fighter pilots were tested this year when a commercial aircraft went “comms-silent” over Europe. As part of the new joint Benelux air policing mission for NATO, they were scrambled to intercept the flight.
In a new arrangement for NATO air policing, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg will work together to secure their skies. While air assets will patrol their own skies as normal, when they cross into the airspace of one of the other two countries participating in the missions they will pass under the control of that country, thus increasing effectiveness and pooling of resources.
Belgium is the first country in the lead and has been tested more than once this year during intercepts of commercial aircraft that have lost communications with air traffic control.
When an Air India plane lost communications with air control due to a technical failure, Hungarian, German and, finally, Belgian pilots flew fighter jets alongside the 787 Dreamliner plane, which was carrying 231 passengers, for two hours as it passed over Europe.
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