After three months of operations above the Baltic States, the Belgian F-16s are returning home in the forthcoming days. They will be replaced by a Danish detachment for the next three months.
Two Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) F-16s intercepted an airliner on June 23rd. As part of security measures related to the EURO 2004 - European Soccer Championship - there are always 2 F-16s fully armed in the air at the time of the games to patrol the no fly zones around the stadiums.
Two Belgian Air Force F-16 fighter jets intercepted an airliner in Belgian airspace on June 17th. The aircraft was feared hijacked after all communication had been lost. However, this turned out to be caused by defective radio equipment.
Belgian F-16 fighter jets from 349 Sqn, stationed at Zokniai airbase in northwestern Lithuania as part of NATO's Baltic air-policing mission, were srambled on June 2nd to intercept a Russian IL-18 approaching Estonian airspace.
A signal aboard an inbound Singapore Airlines Airbus A340-500 indicated a possible hijacking. An F-16 Fighting Falcon escorted the passenger plane to a remote section of Los Angeles International Airport where it landed around 17.30h Monday.
Over 15 Turkish fighter jets have reportedly violated the Athens FIR (Flight Information Regions) this morning in the north and south Aegean, when Greek Minister of Defense Spilios Spiliotopoulos was on board of an F-16 fighter jet flying over the northeastern Aegean island of Limnos.
Two F-16's of the RNLAF took off from Leeuwarden AB on May 1st at 2 pm to intercept a Boeing 737 entering Dutch airspace. The airplane was flying from north to south, but didn't comply with air traffic rules.
Once again U.S. F-16 fighter jets intercepted a small plane flying near President Bush's ranch in Texas. The two Vipers launched flares and forced the Piper Comanche 400 down at San Marcos Municipal Airport around 2:45 p.m. Friday.
As soon as next week, Belgian F-16s are most likely due to set course to the three Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia) that are becoming full NATO members next Monday. The ultimate decision will be taken on Monday by Belgian Defence Secretary A. Flahaut.
Russia has warned NATO against assisting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in monitoring their air space when the countries become members of the NATO alliance in a few days.
The Portuguese air force is to close the airspace over stadiums, and patrol the skies with F-16 fighter jets on match days for Euro 2004. Similarly, Greece will have F-16s in the air during the Athens Olympiad.
Operation Northern Watch officially ended on March 17th, 2004 when the last mission was flown from Incirlik AB, Turkey. This special distinction was held by an F-16 unit, the 55th EFS from Shaw AFB which had 8 aircraft deployed, six of which departed for home on April 7th and the other two left on April 12th. Over 36,000 missions were flown for Operation Northern Watch. In combination with ONW and Operation Provide Comfort which spanned 12 years of military operation, over 78,000 sorties were flown.
Denmark considers to send four F-16s to patrol Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia next month when the Baltic nations are set to join NATO, a Danish military spokesman said on Thursday.
According to Turk.us, the family of a Captain who was killed in a dog fight over the Aegean Sea, sued Athens, at the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR).
On February 28, 1994, six Serb Soko J-21 Jastreb (RVRS) combat jets were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Four were shot down by USAF F-16's participating in Operation Deny Flight.
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