A pair of Eurofighter fighters of the 4th Wing of Grossetto, on alarm service to protect the national airspace, intercepted an A-320 aircraft of the Spanish company Iberia, on the Split - Madrid route, which had lost radio communications with the authorities of air traffic control.
At about 21.00 pm yesterday, Thursday 5 July, the two fighters of the Italian Air Force, on alarm service on the national territory, took off to check the aircraft in transit in Italian airspace. A few minutes after take-off, the two interceptors established visual contact with the aircraft, ensuring that the latter was not in an emergency condition. The Spanish aircraft, having restored communications, continued on the pre-established route, while the two fighters, the alarm ceased, returned to base.
The order came from the CAOC (Combined Air Operation Center) of Torrejon, a NATO body responsible for monitoring the skies in the area, and the intervention of the aircraft was controlled by the operating room of the 22 Radar Group of the Italian Air Force. Licola.
The Air Force ensures the surveillance of the national airspace 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, with an integrated defense system, even in peacetime, with that of other NATO countries. The service is guaranteed - for the surveillance, identification and control part - by the 24th Integrated Military Air Defense Group (DAMI) of Poggio Renatico (FE) and by the 11nd Radar Group of Licola (NA), while the intervention in flight it is insured by the 22 ° Stormo di Grosseto, the 4 ° Stormo di Gioia del Colle and the 36 ° Stormo di Trapani Birgi, all equipped with Eurofighter fighter aircraft.