Swiss Air Force intercepts passenger plane after bomb threat

Swiss police have confirmed that on the evening of June 16, two fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a passenger plane landing at Zurich Airport, after a bomb threat was made. Two sonic booms were heard in Zug, as the jets rushed to intercept the threatened airliner.

Two sonic booms heard over Canton Zug in Switzerland

Residents of Canton Zug reported hearing a deafening sound similar to a thunderclap late on Thursday evening. Several calls were made to the emergency services, with people worried and confused about what the loud noises were.

Soon after, officials in the canton confirmed that there was no danger to the population. The noises were caused by two F / A-18 fighter jets from the Swiss Air Force, which were flying to intercept an airliner landing at Zurich Airport. As each of the planes went faster than the speed of sound, two loud sonic booms were created. 

Swiss F-18 fighter jets intercept plane landing at Zurich Airport

Police explained that the fighters were scrambled to intercept flight GM602 - a Chair Airlines flight from Pristina in Kosovo to Zurich - after a bomb threat was made. The plane was on final approach to the Swiss city when the fighter jets made their intercept.

The Department of Defence confirmed that the two fighter planes then escorted the airline flight, which landed safely on the runway in Kloten. Passengers were quickly evacuated and the plane was searched by specialist police, who gave the flight the all-clear.

According to 20 minuten, subsequent investigations have found that the bomb threat was not targeted at the airline or Switzerland but at the airport in Pristina. The route between Zurich and the Kosovar capital is now fully reopened.