Dutch send F-16 fighters to intercept Schiphol-bound plane

[Bosonic]

Source: Reuters

The Dutch Defence Ministry sent two F-16 fighters to intercept a Vueling airplane thought to be carrying hostages on board that was bound for Amsterdam's Schiphol airport from Malaga, Dutch website nu.nl reported on Wednesday.

Neither Schiphol airport nor the Dutch Defence Ministry were immediately available to comment. A Vueling spokeswoman could not confirm the report.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/29/us-dutch-defence-airplane-schiphol-idUSBRE87S0I520120829?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29

[Lasher]

1. Looks like it's a mistake

Reports: Police surround jet at Amsterdam airport amid fears of hijacking

Dutch military police reportedly surrounded a passenger plane at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on Wednesday amid fears that it had been hijacked.

<snip>

Dutch website nu.nl said there were thought to be hostages on board.

However, budget airline Vueling told Reuters the hijack reports were due to miscommunication and denied a hijacking had taken place.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/29/13546527-reports-police-surround-jet-at-amsterdam-airport-amid-fears-of-hijacking?lite

[dipsydoodle]

4. Yes

Was a fuck up.

[truedelphi]

8. How scarey was that?

Imagine how the passengers, pilots and crew felt.

[Blue_Tires]

2. I'm curious how such communication mistakes get made

if it wasn't the transponder...

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5551193/

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/378555/20120829/plane-hijacked-amsterdam-airport-schipol.htm

[Generic Other]

3. The Dutch have F-16's?

The whole world is an armed camp!

[glacierbay]

5. The Dutch, the Swedes have pretty much

always been armed with American fighters since the end of WW2. I think also the Norwegians also.

[4th law of robotics]

6. I thought the Swedes had Saab?

[glacierbay]

9. You are correct

They fly the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, the swiss also fly the Saab, the Norwegians do fly the F-16.

[hack89]

7. Since 1979. They are a part of NATO after all. nt

[Generic Other]

10. Seems like they don't need us anymore!

My tax dollars at work helping someone else prosper. The story of my life!

[hack89]

11. They bought them. They were built in Holland. It did not cost you a penny. nt

[Generic Other]

12. Oh, I was thinking you meant they were NATO purchases

Hard sometimes to keep the weapons I bought with my tax dollar separate from those purchased by some other downtrodden taxpayer.

[Posteritatis]

14. A few dozen countries use F-16s. 4,500 of them is a lot to go around. (nt)

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. They did, however, evacuate because of a bomb at Schiphol today

A WW2 bomb, that is:

Amsterdam's Schiphol airport evacuated over 'WWII bomb'


Part of Amsterdam's Schiphol airport has been closed after a suspected World War II bomb was discovered, a spokeswoman said.

The departure hall serving most European destinations has been evacuated as a precautionary measure.
...
A bomb disposal team is now dealing with the device.

The bomb was uncovered by workers digging near Pier C, which connects the main plaza with Departure Hall One, serving most destinations within Europe's 26-country passport-free Schengen zone.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19408265

Probably an allied one, since the Germans used it as an airfield. Only days after a half-ton American bomb was detonated in Germany, and a 1.5 ton German bomb was defused in Warsaw.