The Portuguese Air Force escorted a civilian aircraft to the Spanish border due to a “potential bomb threat onboard” within national airspace on Thursday morning.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, the Air Force reported that at 9 a.m., it activated an “F-16M pair after a civilian aircraft declared a potential bomb threat onboard while crossing national airspace, intending to divert to Faro Airport.”
Following the alert, two F-16s on “permanent alert” took off from Monte Real Air Base No. 5. As the Portuguese aircraft “provided escort” to ensure the “safety and effective management of national airspace,” the “crew of the civilian aircraft decided to continue the flight to its destination airport, outside national territory.”
“Upon leaving the national flight information region, responsibility transitioned to Spain, with the F-16Ms conducting the mission ‘handover’ and subsequently returning to Monte Real,” the Air Force stated.
In the note, the Air Force highlighted that it maintains a “permanent F-16M alert for national air defense, responding to all situations ensuring national sovereignty and the effective management and safety of air traffic, in strict compliance with national and international recommendations.”
