Ryanair B38M over Atlantic on Jan 8th 2022, loss of communication prompts intercept

Last Update: January 12, 2022 / 08:38:22 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jan 8, 2022

Classification
Incident

Airline
Ryanair

Flight number
FR-8288

Departure
London Stansted, United Kingdom

Destination
Lanzarote, Spain

Aircraft Registration
EI-HAY

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800MAX

ICAO Type Designator
B38M

A Ryanair Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration EI-HAY performing flight FR-8288 from London Stansted,EN (UK) to Lanzarote,CI (Spain), was enroute at FL410 about 50 nm south of Lisbon (Portugal) when Portuguese Fighter Aircraft (F-16) intercepted the Boeing due to the loss of communication. Communication was restored, the fighter aircraft returned to their base after inspections, the Boeing continued to Lanzarote without further incident for a safe landing about 80 minutes later.

A listener on frequency reported the fighter aircraft approached a Ryanair flight to the Canary Islands due to the loss of communication, subsequently insisted on inspecting the cockpit from the left and right hand side at about 09:50z. The listener however could not remember the callsign of the Ryanair flight.

Portuguese Media reported based on statements by Portugal's Air Force a flight from the UK to Las Palmas had been intercepted due to the loss of communication. This information, even combined with the time stamp and information of the listener on frequency, left the possibility of several Ryanair flights from the UK to Las Palmas, which were all within the (Atlantic and Mainland) Airspace of Portugal at the time.

Portugal's Airforce reported they performed a "cockpit check" to determine whether they were any suspicious signs like a hijack situation or pilot's unresponsive/passed out. The alarm was determined false.

On Jan 11th 2022 another source reported two Portuguese F-16 fighters had been dispatched to intercept a flight originating in London Stansted.

On Jan 12th 2022 yet another source reported the aircraft's destination was Arrecife/Lanzarote, not Las Palmas as had been reported by the Air Force.

EI-HAY remained on the ground at Lanzarote for about 48.5 hours before returning to service.
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
EI-HAY
Country of Registration
Ireland
Date of Registration
E keAldqmepq qclk Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
THE BOEING COMPANY
Aircraft Model / Type
BOEING 737-8200
ICAO Aircraft Type
B38M
Year of Manufacture
Ijei Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Kfbck Subscribe to unlock
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
Qjlcd Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
A Subscribe to unlock
Engine
FckmAdbmhqib Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
lmpdfdhlibhemkifdpbbqgcfccfjfjqpknfmA m ljqndAbcfgjlheghgk g mmn Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jan 8, 2022

Classification
Incident

Airline
Ryanair

Flight number
FR-8288

Departure
London Stansted, United Kingdom

Destination
Lanzarote, Spain

Aircraft Registration
EI-HAY

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800MAX

ICAO Type Designator
B38M

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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