Two Portuguese Air Force jets were scrambled Thursday morning to intercept TUI plane crossing national air space.
Two F-16Ms fight jets were scrambled from Air Base No. 5, in Monte Real Thursday 19 June 2025 after TUI flight BY6422, heading to Spain, reported a possible bomb threat after a ‘note’ was discovered in the lavatory.
The Boeing 737-800 (registration G-TAWJ), packed with holidaymakers, was set to divert to Faro Airport, however it managed to land at the intended place, Lanzarote Airport, in Spain’s Canary Islands.
A Portuguese Air Force spokesperson said: “This morning, at 9:00 am, the Air Force activated the F-16M alert pair after a civilian aircraft declared a potential bomb threat on board when crossing national airspace, intending to divert to Faro Airport.”
Upon leaving the national flight information region, responsibility passed to Spain, with the Portuguese F-16Ms carrying out the handover of the mission and subsequent return to Monte Real.
