Greek fighter jets intercepted US passenger plane over the Mediterranean hours after EgyptAir disaster sparking claims pilots did not make contact because they were asleep

By Julian Robinson for MailOnline

Published: 05:38 EST, 24 May 2016 | Updated: 10:55 EST, 24 May 2016

Greek fighter jets intercepted a US passenger plane over the Mediterranean just hours after the EgyptAir disaster sparking claims its pilots did not make contact because they were asleep.

The two military aircraft were scrambled when the Delta Airlines pilots 'failed to make contact' with Greek aviation officials after entering the country's airspace at about 7.10pm on Thursday.

Hours earlier all 66 people on board an EgyptAir flight were killed when the Airbus 320 crashed in the Mediterranean after disappearing from the radar while en route from Paris to Cairo.

Greek fighter jets intercepted a Delta Airlines flight over the Mediterranean just hours after the EgyptAir disaster amid claims its pilots did not make contact because they were asleep - claims Delta say are 'completely untrue' (file picture)

Greek fighter jets intercepted a Delta Airlines flight over the Mediterranean just hours after the EgyptAir disaster amid claims its pilots did not make contact because they were asleep - claims Delta say are 'completely untrue' (file picture)

The two F-16s were scrambled when the Delta Airlines pilots 'failed to make contact' with Greek aviation officials after entering the country's airspace at about 7.10pm on Thursday (file picture)

The two F-16s were scrambled when the Delta Airlines pilots 'failed to make contact' with Greek aviation officials after entering the country's airspace at about 7.10pm on Thursday (file picture)

F-16 jets intercepted the Delta Airlines flight DL8957 just before 7.30pm as it was flying south of the holiday island of Santorini, the Aviation Herald reports. 

According to the news.com, Athens-based air traffic controllers had made repeated attempts to establish contact with the pilots before the fighter jets were scrambled.

Delta Airlines says flight crew were 'unable to establish radio communications with Greek air traffic control for a short period' during a 'handoff between air traffic control agencies'. 

But news.com reports claims that the F-16 pilots could see the Delta flight crew in their seats and that they were 'possibly asleep' - claims Delta Airlines have described as 'completely untrue'.

The website reports that one of the F-16s flew ahead of the Boeing 767-400, which was flying from Frankfurt in Germany to Kuwait, and used light signals in an attempt to 'rouse' the pilots. 

F-16 jets intercepted the Delta Airlines flight DL8957 just before 7.30pm as it was flying south of the holiday island of Santorini (file picture)

F-16 jets intercepted the Delta Airlines flight DL8957 just before 7.30pm as it was flying south of the holiday island of Santorini (file picture)

Contact was finally established with Greek authorities, the website reports.

A Delta Airlines spokesman told MailOnline: 'While transiting to Greek airspace, the flight crew of Delta flight 8957, a charter operation from Hahn, Germany to Kuwait, was unable to establish radio communications with Greek air traffic control for a short period.

'This occurred during a handoff between air traffic control agencies and communications were expeditiously reestablished.

'At no point did the Boeing 767-400ER leave its planned route of flight.'


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