Hungary, Greece scramble jets to intercept Ryanair flight due to bomb threat

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Greece and Hungary scrambled their fighter jets to intercept Ryanair flight 6385 after a bomb threat was received by the crew.  

The Ryanair Boeing 737-8 was flying between Katowice (KTW) and Athens (ATH). The flight took off at 12:05 PM GMT on January 22, 2023, Fligthradar24 data shows.  

Soon after the takeoff the crew were notified of a bomb threat, according to a report by EuroNews.   

The threat was received by KTW personnel via a telephone call while the aircraft was in Slovakian airspace, AFT reported.   

The decision to land at ATH was made and the aircraft proceeded to Hungarian airspace, where it was intercepted by Hungarian Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets, the reports stated.  

Approximately one hour later, over the airspace of North Macedonia, the fighters were relieved by General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons of the Hellenic Air Force.  

According to Flightradar24 data the flight route through Greek airspace was changed and the aircraft flew above the Aegean Sea, avoiding major cities and landmasses.   

FR6385 landed at ATH at 3:40 PM GMT. The passengers were disembarked, and their luggage was checked for explosives, Reuters reported.

According to a statement issued by the Hellenic Police, no suspicious items were found. 

 

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