Flyer7SA
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2001
- Posts
- 39
I can't figure it out... Why would the FAA request an escort due to a bad squaker, especially when the pilots hadn't lost radio contact???
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Two National Guard fighter jets escorted a Delta Air Lines plane back to Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport on Friday after the plane's transponder malfunctioned shortly after taking off.
The Washington-bound jetliner was intercepted by F-16 jets about 15 minutes after it took off, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado.
It landed at Hartsfield about 10 minutes later. All nine passengers were booked on other flights to Washington's Reagan National Airport.
The transponder sends information about a plane's identity, altitude, speed and direction to air traffic controllers. Controllers have been particularly sensitive about transponder data since the September 11 hijackings, when terrorists switched off the transponders before crashing.
During Friday's incident, the Delta pilots were in continuous communication with air traffic controllers, Delta spokeswoman Peggy Estes said.
She said the problem was determined to be a malfunction and the plane, an MD-88, was being repaired and would be to return to service.
The FAA requested the jet escort at 8 a.m., said Marine Corp. Maj. Mike Snyder, a NORAD spokesman. The fighter jets were sent from Robins Air Force Base, south of Macon.
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Two National Guard fighter jets escorted a Delta Air Lines plane back to Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport on Friday after the plane's transponder malfunctioned shortly after taking off.
The Washington-bound jetliner was intercepted by F-16 jets about 15 minutes after it took off, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado.
It landed at Hartsfield about 10 minutes later. All nine passengers were booked on other flights to Washington's Reagan National Airport.
The transponder sends information about a plane's identity, altitude, speed and direction to air traffic controllers. Controllers have been particularly sensitive about transponder data since the September 11 hijackings, when terrorists switched off the transponders before crashing.
During Friday's incident, the Delta pilots were in continuous communication with air traffic controllers, Delta spokeswoman Peggy Estes said.
She said the problem was determined to be a malfunction and the plane, an MD-88, was being repaired and would be to return to service.
The FAA requested the jet escort at 8 a.m., said Marine Corp. Maj. Mike Snyder, a NORAD spokesman. The fighter jets were sent from Robins Air Force Base, south of Macon.