The European Pilots Association (ECA)▁expressed▁deep▁concern▁at▁how public▁authorities▁responded to▁false▁bomb▁threats on▁commercial▁flights in Europe▁last▁week. The▁entity▁states that▁aircraft▁safety▁protocols▁were▁not▁properly▁considered by▁military▁escorts▁when▁ordering▁emergency▁landings▁at▁specific▁airports. ▁Reports▁indicate that▁military▁aircraft intercepted▁civilian▁aircraft and▁required▁landings▁without▁taking▁into▁account the▁operational▁requirements▁necessary for▁landing▁safety. A case▁mentioned▁involves a▁flight from Aer Lingus, intercepted in the Dublin-Rome▁stretch▁last▁Thursday (05/11),▁which▁was▁forced to▁land▁at the Evreux▁military base in France.
The▁crew▁reported▁not▁having the aeronautical▁charts▁or▁operational▁information▁needed to▁safely▁land▁at that particular▁location. ▁Despite the▁crew's▁request for an▁appropriate▁alternative▁airport, the▁request▁was▁refused by the▁military▁authorities. In▁addition, ECA is▁alarmed by▁reports of▁pilots▁threatened with criminal▁prosecutions for▁actions▁taken to▁protect▁passengers and▁aircraft under similar▁circumstances. The vice▁president of the▁association, Paul Reuter,▁stated that it is▁essential that▁decisions in▁these▁incidents▁comply with the▁professional▁criteria of the▁aircraft▁commander.