Plane forced to land after losing radio contact

The plane that lost contact with ATC was operated by Scandinavian Airlines. Picture: Complimentary

A FIGHTER jet was scrambled to escort a passenger plane to land at Glasgow Prestwick Airport today after it lost contact with air traffic control.

The Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) CR39 was flying from Copenhagen to Birmingham when communications were cut as it passed over Scotland this morning.

As a result, the aircraft’s pilot had complete an unscheduled landing at Prestwick at around 9.30am, accompanied by a fighter jet that flew from RAF Leuchars after the request to land was made by air traffic control.

Three fire engines, police and ambulances and scrambled to the runway in case of an accidents.

A spokesman for the airport said that this was “standard response” to a loss of communication between an aircraft and air traffic control.

Once on the ground, the plane was checked over by technicians and is believed that the pilot had his communication radio on the wrong frequency.

The airport spokesman said that the aircraft would be now be allowed to resume its flight.

An MOD Spokesperson confirmed that a jet fighter was scrambled to escort the plane to Prestwick: “Typhoon aircraft from RAF Leuchars were launched today to investigate a civilian aircraft transiting the North Sea which had lost radio contact with air traffic control, the aircraft re-established comms and landed safely at Prestwick.’

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police were alerted to an incident involving an aircraft which had lost communications around 09.30am on Thursday for a short period of time. Communication was soon regained and the aircraft has now landed safely.”