Portuguese F-16AM take place the first scramble of a NATO country in 2022

[Jorge Ruivo]

On Jan 8, two Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighters launched from Monte Real Air Base to check on a civilian Boeing 737 that lost radio contact with Air Traffic Control in Portuguese airspace over the Atlantic.

Once contacts were back, the flight continued safely to the plane's destination in the Canary Islands. This first Allied Air Policing scramble in 2022 underlines the 24/7 collective NATO effort safeguarding the skies above the Allies.

Portuguese F-16s QRA - First NATO scramble

Regards from Portugal