Ryanair B38M over Atlantic on Jan 8th 2022, loss of communication prompts intercept
Last Update: January 12, 2022 / 08:38:22 GMT/Zulu time
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 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
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.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Ryanair B738 near Budapest on Dec 27th 2022, suspected fuel leak
A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DCZ performing flight FR-2101 from Brussels Charleroi (Belgium) to Bucharest Otopeni (Romania) with 176…
Ryanair B738 near Madrid on Dec 13th 2022, engine problem
A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DCW performing flight FR-8075 from Brussels Charleroi (Belgium) to Marrakesh (Morocco), was enroute at…
Ryanair B738 at Newcastle on Dec 10th 2022, lightning strike
A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-EVS performing flight FR-3010 from Wroclaw (Poland) to Newcastle,EN (UK), was on approach to Newcastle when…
Ryanair B38M at Dublin on Oct 18th 2022, could not retract landing gear
A Ryanair Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration EI-HGF performing flight FR-7072 from Dublin (Ireland) to Porto (Portugal), was climbing out of Dublin's…
Ryanair B738 at Tenerife and Malaga on Sep 10th 2022, technical problem
A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-EFJ performing flight FR-4754 from Tenerife South,CI (Spain) to Bristol,EN (UK), was climbing out of…
Newest articles
Canada A320 enroute on Jan 29th 2023, engine rolled back
An Air Canada Airbus A320-200, registration C-FKPT performing flight AC-7081 from Buffalo,NY (USA) to Montreal,QC (Canada) with 2 crew, had just…
Southwest B738 at Saint Louis on Feb 5th 2023, bird strike
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N8678E performing flight WN-1260 from Saint Louis,MO to Pittsburgh,PA (USA), was climbing out of…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner

A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.

ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways