Germans scramble fighter planes after airliner loses contact

Two German fighter jets intercepted a London-bound passenger aircraft after air traffic controllers failed to contact its pilot.

The Eurofighter Typhoons were deployed last Thursday after the Jet Airways Boeing 777 airliner lost communications as it crossed over the city of Cologne, reports the Evening Standard.

Recently published video, believed to have been taken from a British Airways passenger plane, shows one of the German military planes closing on the airliner. It is quickly joined by another and the pair then escort the commercial aircraft.

The London-bound flight had departed from Mumbai and had 330 passengers and 15 crew on board.

Officials said communication with the passenger plane was restored by the time the fighter jets were in the air and they were scrambled to "ensure the safety of the flight and its guests".

It made a safe landing at Heathrow airport in London after being escorted by the Typhoons.

In a statement Jet Airways said: “Contact between Jet Airways flight 9W 118, from Mumbai to London’s Heathrow Airport and the local ATC [Air Traffic Control], was briefly lost while flying over German airspace. 

“Communication was safely restored within a few minutes. As a precaution, the German air force deployed its aircraft to ensure the safety of the flight and its guests."

It added the matter was reported and the airline had begun an investigation.