DUBLIN- A Ryanair (FR) flight from Sofia Airport (SOF) to London Stansted Airport (STN) was intercepted by two fighter jets and diverted from its planned route on Tuesday night (August 12, 2025) after a security threat was reported.
The aircraft, operated by Buzz, Ryanair’s Polish charter subsidiary, was flying flight FR9962 with 189 passengers on board when Czech authorities denied it entry into their airspace, prompting a sharp change in course before being escorted by German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons.
Photo: EurofighterFighter Jets Scramble Ryanair Flight
The 14-year-old Boeing 737-800 departed Sofia Airport (SOF) at around 21:30 local time and climbed to 36,000 feet, following a route over Serbia, Hungary, and Austria toward London Stansted Airport (STN). Before crossing into Czech airspace, Buzz received a security threat against the flight.
Czech authorities instructed the crew to avoid their airspace, forcing the pilots to turn sharply left to remain in Austrian airspace. The aircraft then entered Germany, where two Eurofighter Typhoon jets were scrambled to intercept it. German officials allowed the flight to continue after determining the threat was not credible.
The flight landed safely at London Stansted on schedule, with passengers disembarking normally. Ryanair later confirmed the incident, noting the alert was resolved quickly without incident.
Ryanair’s spokesperson stated: “Buzz, the Polish charter airline, was advised of a possible security issue on flight FR9962 from Sofia to London Stansted on Mon, 11 August. This issue was quickly resolved and de-escalated, allowing the flight to continue and land on time.”
Photo: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 – Free photo on PixabaySimilar Incidents in the Past
In May 2021, a Ryanair (FR) flight from Athens (ATH) to Vilnius (VNO) was diverted to Minsk (MSQ) after Belarus claimed there was a bomb threat.
The diversion led to the arrest of journalist Raman Pratasevich, sparking international outrage. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary described that event as “aviation piracy” and “state-sponsored hijacking.”
Photo- Colin CookeWikimedia Commons
SAS Connect Pilot Fined on Blackout
On February 5, 2023, an SAS Connect (SL) Airbus A320 flying from Oslo, Norway (OSL) to Manchester, England (MAN) experienced a 30-minute loss of radio contact with air traffic controllers. The aircraft, carrying 58 passengers, was under the command of Captain Christopher Hollands.
Repeated attempts by controllers to reach the crew failed, triggering a security alert. Fearing a possible hijacking, authorities scrambled two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets to intercept the flight and escort it to Manchester Airport (MAN). Upon landing, the plane was taken to a remote stand, where armed police boarded and secured the aircraft.
The communication loss occurred mid-flight while the SAS Connect A320 was cruising toward the UK. Air traffic control classified the situation as a “loss of communication” event — a scenario treated with the highest caution due to its potential link to unlawful interference.
The Royal Air Force Typhoons were dispatched from a quick reaction alert base, closing in on the commercial airliner to verify the situation visually. Standard interception procedures were followed, and the passenger flight continued safely to its destination under military escort.
After touchdown, the isolated parking of the aircraft allowed law enforcement to conduct checks without disrupting airport operations. Passengers remained on board during the initial security sweep, after which normal disembarkation took place.
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