Fears of a potential terrorist attack led to RAF Leuchars jets being scrambled this morning to intercept a civilian aircraft which had lost communications with air traffic controllers.
The civilian aircraft, which was over the North Sea on a route from Copenhagen to Birmingham, lost contact with air traffic control as it passed over Scotland.
As a result, the Scandinavian Airlines plane completed an unscheduled landing at Prestwick at around 9.30am.
Fighter jets from Leuchars were dispatched to escort the aircraft to its landing after it requested to touch down at the airport.
Three fire appliances, police and ambulances were scrambled to the runway as a result of the call.
A spokesman for Prestwick confirmed it was a “standard response” to an aircraft losing communication with air traffic control.
It is believed the pilot had his line of communication with control on the wrong frequency, which resulted in the landing.
Prestwick confirmed that the incident was over and the flight, which was carrying 72 passengers, had continued its journey. Emergency services scrambled to the scene left at around 10.30am.
A spokesman said: “The aircraft lost communications with air traffic control and followed procedure by making a safe landing as soon as possible.
“Emergency services were called to the runway as a precaution but there were no injuries and they were soon stood down and the flight continued around 30 minutes after the landing.”
An MoD Spokesman said: “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 9.30am on Thursday for a short period of time. Communication was soon regained and the aircraft has now landed safely.”
RAF Leuchars jets provide QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) for northern British airspace and are on standby 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
RAF Leuchars is currently hosting Exercise Joint Warrior the largest military exercise in Europe.
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